The union ministry of home affairs suspended IAS Hemant Kumar and sought CBI probe against him for alleged irregularities in awarding compensation for land acquisition in southwest Delhi's Bamnoli village.
A 2013-batch AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre officer, Kumar, during his tenure as the district magistrate of southwest district of Delhi, as an arbitrator, had increased the compensation amount of 19-acre land being acquired by National Highways Authority of India from Rs 41.5 crore to Rs 353.8 crore.
According to a report of the directorate of vigilance of Delhi government, duly vetted by Kumar reporting officer – the divisional commissioner – the recommendation of Kumar if implemented would have put an additional financial burden of Rs 312 crore on the government.
The report said that the enhancement of compensation by Kumar was a “gross blunder” and was especially serious when coming from a DM who should have known the prevalent land rates.
“If the principle applied by the DM is considered, it would result in absurd results having bearing on planned urbanisation and development,” the report added.
Taking strong cognisance of this, LG Vinai Kumar Saxena has given his nod to initiate disciplinary action against the officer besides referring it to the CBI for further investigation.
LG had also accepted the recommendation to surrender the officer to the services department for further action, the source added.
Following the recommendation of National Capital Civil Service Authority, Kumar was transferred by the services department to the administrative reforms department as special secretary on September 21 this year.
In its letter to the CBI, the MHA said it had examined the recommendation made by the government of Delhi duly approved by LG.
“It has been decided that the matter be referred to the central agency for further investigation,” said a MHA official.
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
