 "Delhi principal secretary Rajendra Kumar remanded to five-day CBI custody")
The Delhi government’s Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar, along with five other accused, was remanded by a CBI court to five-day police custody on Tuesday. The CBI had however, sought a ten-day custody of Kumar to complete investigations.
CBI seeks 10 day police custody of Delhi Principal Secy Rajendra Kumar and 4 others
— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2016
In a dramatic statement, it also reportedly called him a “sheshnaag” or snake king during the court hearing. The agency claimed that he single-handedly controlled the government, according to NDTV. Kumar was arrested on Monday by the CBI in connection with an alleged corruption scandal. The agency had conducted a raid on Kumar’s office on 15 December, 2015 at the Delhi secretariat and seized documents and alleged that they prima facie reflected a criminal conspiracy and abuse of official position. Kumar has been accused of misusing his office to deliver government contracts to a firm which gave him kickbacks, reported NDTV. The Delhi court however, questioned the CBI over the necessity of arresting Kumar now, as the case was registered in December 2015. Responding to it, the CBI said that investigations cannot be completed in a fair manner if Kumar continues to intimidate witnesses.
Delhi Court asks CBI 'if you registered case in Dec 2015 then what was necessity to arrest him(Delhi Principal Secy Rajendra Kumar) now?'
— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2016
CBI replies 'He((Delhi Principal Secy Rajendra Kumar) is senior bureaucrat, investigation can't be done fairly if he intimidates witnesses'
— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2016
His lawyer, however told the court that CBI could not prove any wrongful gains even in seven months of their investigation. CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said that probe in underway because allegations related to bribery and abuse of position by Kumar and the other accused have surfaced. Some new evidence is still surfacing which may lead to cheating and forgery charges.
Allegations related to bribery and abuse of position against them, further probe underway: CBI Spokesperson,RK Gaur pic.twitter.com/uyj6ls7iV8
— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2016
Dinesh Gupta, owner of a private firm which is said to have bagged a few contracts with Kumar’s help, alleged on Tuesday that the CBI pressurised him to become an approver in the case against Kumar. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers allege that the arrest is a pressure tactic by the central government. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia called it an attempt to paralyse the Chief Minister’s office. He further said that the central government is trying to bypass the Delhi government and run it through undemocratic means.
This is the lowest levels to which a Central govt has stooped, from the time Delhi has had an elected govt in 1991 (2/n)
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) July 4, 2016
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra responded to AAP’s allegations in an interview with Times Now and said that “Whenever any allegations of corruption are made, the first step they (AAP leaders) take is to shout at PM Modi and the NDA government." Patra further asked why the AAP government was trying to protect a person who is allegedly corrupt. Senior Congress leader Sheila Dikshit too defended the CBI on Tuesday for arresting Kumar although she did question the timing of the arrest. She said that the CBI must have made the arrest based on some information.
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