Raid at home interrupts preparations for Rajendra Kumar’s birthday today
He has been accused by the CBI of favouring private companies while issuing government contracts between 2007 and 2014.
Rajendra Kumar’s family had gathered at his Friends Colony bungalow for his 49th birthday. (Express Photo by Purushottam Sharma)
A 12-hour-long- raid and the subsequent ushering away to the CBI office late Tuesday afternoon marred celebrations at C-52A, Friends Colony — a two-storey official bungalow which has served as Rajendra Kumar’s residence for nearly a decade. Kumar — the Delhi chief minister’s principal secretary — will turn 49 on Wednesday.
He has been accused by the CBI of favouring private companies while issuing government contracts between 2007 and 2014.
“The entire family is here. His elder daughter who studies in Bangalore has come home for a few days. His younger daughter had also decided to skip school. His wife’s parents have also come from Patna. There would have been a small celebration tomorrow on his birthday. Now, we don’t know when he will come back home,” said Kumar’s driver.
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Around 7 am Tuesday, 12 CBI officers reached Kumar’s residence to conduct a raid following allegations of corruption against him. Only drivers, guards and other employees of Kumar’s household, apart from his family, were allowed access to his house.
Meanwhile, the lanes next to the building were soon occupied by OB vans and media cars.
“Our mobile phones were the first thing they seized,” said a guard, before he turned to peek through the gate and inform reporters, “Sir has just gone to that corner to smoke a cigarette. He doesn’t smoke in front of his children.”
During the day, the only glimpse of Kumar and his wife that onlookers could get was when they came out for a few minutes at about 1 pm to sit on the lawn.
Even though most of his neighbours did not speak about the incident, a resident said, “This is the only government bungalow in the neighbourhood and he has been living here for many years. You must investigate this.” As reports about the amount of cash recovered from his house trickled in, CBI officers remained tight-lipped. They said that the “investigation was still underway”.
At 7.20 pm, accompanied by a CBI official, Kumar and his wife were taken to the CBI headquarters in his official car while the others followed behind.
Minutes ago, around five bags had been carried out of the house by police and CBI officers.
Senior advocate and former AAP leader H S Phoolka, who had reached Kumar’s residence a few minutes earlier, said he had not been allowed to speak to Kumar.
“I was sitting in the same room but was not allowed to speak to him. I spoke to his wife. I have been told that he has not been arrested. They have taken him for questioning to the CBI office… Depending on the action that the CBI takes next, we will chart our legal plan,”
said Phoolka.
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