Raid on Kejriwal's secretary's office based on Ashish Joshi's complaint, say CBI officials

The raid on the office of Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar is based on the complaint of Ashish Joshi, former member-secretary of Delhi Dialogue Commission, two senior officials of CBI have confirmed to Firstpost.

“In his complaint on 13 July 2015, Joshi had sought a probe into the dealings of Mr Kumar when he was associated with the departments of Education, IT and Health of the Delhi government. Mr Joshi has alleged that Mr Kumar set up various companies when he was director of Education from May 2002 to February 2005 and later secretary IT and Health and Commissioner VAT. He awarded work orders of departments to these companies without floating tenders. This resulted in loss to the government’s exchequer," said one of the officers close to the development.

Kumar, he said, allegedly formed a company - Endeavors Systems - with some of his relatives and friends. In 2007, he became secretary (IT) of the Delhi government. “Using his power and position, he got the firm empanelled with public sector undertaking ICSIL, an IT PSU. The PSU status enables companies to do works of government departments without tenders,” he said.

Work orders were allegedly given to Endeavors Systems when Kumar served under several departments. “IT-related works and SAP licence for over Rs 75 crore were given to the company through such unfair means,” he added.

Between 2002-05, Kumar as director, Education, allegedly created two firms, Caltoonz and EDUDEL MIS, both registered in Timarpur. Interestingly, all these companies have common addresses and directors, most of whom are said to be Kumar’s relatives.

Ashish Joshi had lodged a complaint with Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau chief MK Meena on 12 June this year after a public spat with DDC chairman Ashish Khetan and his subsequent ouster from the commission. Kumar is considered to be close to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs said ACB was asked at that time to go soft on the Delhi government. Sensing something fishy, Joshi went to the CBI and registered the same complaint. The ACB then submitted all documents and evidence collected against Kumar to CBI, another CBI officer said.

Last Thursday, when Joshi approached the CBI to know the status of the probe, the central agency swung into action. Soon, a search warrant was issued and raids were planned.

At present, raids are being conducted at 14 locations in and outside the National Capital, including Uttar Pradesh.