Rajendra Kumar Says He Was Asked to Frame Kejriwal, CBI Denies it

CBI’s reaction came after the Principal Secretary alleged that he was pressurised by interrogators to frame Kejriwal

Rajendra Kumar (left) and Arvind Kejriwal. (Photo: The Quint)

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday strongly refuted allegations by Rajendra Kumar, the former Principal Secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, that he was "threatened" by its officers to implicate the Aam Aadmi Party Chief.

Kumar, who has been chargesheeted by the agency in a graft case, made the allegations in his letter to Delhi Chief Secretary seeking voluntary retirement.

CBI said making such "absolutely baseless allegations" after filing of chargesheet "is only an attempt to influence the matter which is subjudice".

The allegation of Rajendra Kumar, which has incidentally come up after filing of the chargesheet, that witnesses/accused in this case were threatened by the CBI officers to implicate a political functionary, is absolutely baseless.

CBI Spokesperson RK Gaur

CBI’s reaction came after Kumar sought voluntary retirement alleging that he was pressurised by CBI interrogators to implicate Chief Minister Kejriwal in the alleged wrongdoings he (Kumar) is accused of.

In his letter to Delhi Chief Secretary, Kumar, a 1989 batch IAS officer, said:

I was repeatedly told that I would be let free if I implicate Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Gaur said the accused had the opportunity to bring before the court any instance of alleged physical assault when they were produced before the judge but no such allegation was made.

No such allegation was made at the relevant time, except one person, who also filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court, but had to withdraw the same after the court observed that he is trying to spoil the system and scaring away the probe agency which was widely reported in the media on 3 May 2016.

RK Gaur, CBI Spokesperson 

Gaur said making such baseless allegations at this moment is only an attempt to influence the matter which is sub-judice.

He said the CBI registered the case in December 2015 against Rajendra Kumar and others under Prevention of Corruption Act, after due diligence.

Also Read: CBI Arrests Arvind Kejriwal’s “Most Trusted Man” Rajendra Kumar

Kumar was arrested on 4 July 2016 in a corruption case. In December 2016, the CBI filed a chargesheet against him.

Kumar, a 1989-batch IAS officer, was accused of abusing his official position in awarding Delhi government contracts worth Rs 9.5 crore to private firm Endeavour Systems Pvt Ltd.

Kumar was granted bail on 26 July. He has denied the accusations hurled against him.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS.)