PM Narendra Modi a ‘coward, psychopath,’ says Arvind Kejriwal after CBI raid

A CBI spokesperson said, “The CBI has registered a case against Rajender Kumar, secretary to CM Delhi, on the allegation of abusing his official position by favouring a particular firm in the last few years in getting tenders from delhi government departments. After taking warrants, searches are being conducted in the office and residence of Rajender Kumar.”

CBI sources said the case was registered based on a complaint filed former Delhi Dialogue Commission member Ashish Joshi who has a running feud with Kejriwal. Joshi was one of the first few bureaucrats with whom Kejriwal picked up a battle after assuming office in Delhi. The feud eventually saw an unceremonious exit of Joshi from the Delhi Dialogue Commission.

In his complaint, Joshi had alleged that Kumar, while he was posted as Director (Education) between 2002 and 2005, created two companies — Caltoonz and EDUDEL MIS — registered in Timarpur. The then office superintendent, Ashok Kumar, was appointed in-charge of Caltoonz.

“Later, Rajendra Kumar formed a company Endeavors Systems along with Dinesh Kumar Gupta (who supplied stationery to the education department) and Sandeep Kumar, a contractual programmer in Caltoonz. Rajendra Kumar and Ashok, who resigned from government service in 2009, are related,” Joshi’s complaint said.

In a letter written to chief secretary K K Sharma, Joshi, also a senior bureaucrat, had questioned Kumar’s authority in issuing orders of his removal from the DDC.

CBI lying. My own office raided. Files of CM office are being looked into. Let Modi say which file he wants?

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015

“I am the only CM who dismissed, on my own, a minister n a senior officer on charges of corruption and handed their cases to CBI. If CBI had any evidence against Rajender, why didn’t they share it wid me? I wud hv acted against him,” Kejriwal wrote on Twitter.

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The raid could potentially be the latest flash-point in what has been a highly troublesome and tumultous relationship between the AAP government and the BJP-ruled Centre ever since Kejriwal assumed power.

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Last week, The Indian Express had reported that Kumar, the most powerful bureaucrat in the capital, was questioned several times by the Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi government in connection with the 2002 CNG fitness scam case.

Rajendra Kumar was questioned by a team headed by Joint Commissioner of Police M K Meena at his office in Civil Lines in September and October, said sources.

Kumar had assumed the charge of home secretary after the city government shifted incumbent senior IAS officer Dharam Pal and placed him at the disposal of the Home Ministry following a tussle between the AAP government and Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung over the appointment of Mukesh Kumar Meena as chief of Anti-Corruption Branch.

The government on its part has denied any involvement in the CBI raids.

(With inputs from Deeptiman Tiwari and Mayura Janwalkar)