Office locked, vehicle taken away as Delhi L-G targets DDC head Jasmine Shah, AAP hits back

Saxena’s decision came following a complaint filed by BJP MP Parvesh Verma last month.

The move drew a sharp response from the Aam Aadmi Party. “Jasmine’s office has been locked by LG alleging that he is AAP spokesperson. The office of Sambit Patra, who is Chairman ITDC, should also be sealed since he is spokesperson of BJP,” Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted.

Following the orders of the L-G and directions from the planning department, the Sub-District Magistrate (SDM), Civil Lines, sealed the office premises of the office situated at Shamnath Marg, Civil Lines, on Thursday evening, said an official from the L-G house. Sources, however, pointed out that Shah mostly works out of the Delhi Secretariat.

An official from the LG office claimed, “Shah was given two opportunities to reply to the show cause notice issued on October 17 by the director, planning department, but failed to submit his reply. Instead, he informed that the reply was submitted to the Minister of the Planning Department.” Sisodia holds the portfolio of the Planning Department.

The official added, “The L-G wrote a letter to the CM office on November 4, seeking to know the reply of Shah, but the CM office till now has not replied to the letter. Thereafter, L-G asked to prevent any further misuse of the office of DDC; Shah’s office was sealed late Thursday.”

An order dated November 17 and signed Vijendra Singh Rawat, Director (Planning), Government of NCT of Delhi, states: “Head of Office/Deputy Secretary DDCD is hereby directed to give effect to this order immediately by taking the following measures: a) Office chamber of VC, DDCD at 33, Shamnath Marg may be locked in order of (sic) prevent access of the premises. b) The vehicle and manpower/staff facility shall stand withdrawn with immediate effect.”

It was following a complaint from BJP MP Verma that the Planning Department of Delhi government had issued a show cause notice to Shah. In his complaint, submitted in September, Verma had said that Shah, while working as the DDDC vice-chairperson, “acted as official spokesperson of the Aam Aadmi Party for political gains, which is in violation of established procedures”.

Officials in the Delhi government said that the recent developments will most likely affect ongoing projects and policies works under DDCD.