Why is Arvind Kejriwal Trying to Protect Rajendra Kumar?

The CBI claims fair investigation. Kejriwal, in defence of his Secretary, cries foul play.

Why is the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, so protective of a bureaucrat? Did he jump the gun by saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is targeting him and not his principal secretary, Rajendra Kumar? Is Kejriwal simply politicising the entire issue?

The drama of allegations started in the morning when Kejriwal tweeted at around 10:13 am that the Central Bureau of Investigation had raided his office. Within an hour, the CBI clarified that the raid was conducted at his secretary’s office and not the chief minister’s.

The CBI registered a case against Kumar under the Prevention of Corruption Act on Monday, based on a complaint by Ashish Joshi, member secretary of the Delhi Dialogue Commission.

According to the CBI, the case is against 6 persons, including Kumar, and has nothing to do with Kejriwal. The CBI also clarified that Kumar, as a government employee, favoured a private company through five contracts worth Rs 9.5 crore, between 2007-2014. Here are the details of these contracts:

• In 2009, Kumar as Chairman, Delhi Transco, allegedly facilitated a contract worth Rs 40.5 lakh for the development of a comprehensive management information system to Endeavour System Pvt Ltd without inviting tenders. The contract was given through a PSU ICSIL.
  
• In Nov 2010, Kumar, as Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, allegedly facilitated the award of a manpower project in the ministry, worth Rs 2.43 crore, to the same private company through ICSIL without inviting tenders.
  
• In May 2012, as Commissioner, Trade and Taxes, Kumar allegedly facilitated the award of a project for the development of a software application worth Rs 3.66 crore to the same company through ICSIL. Though Trade and Taxes contracts were awarded through tenders, conditions were tailor-made to suit the company.
  
• In July 2013, as Secretary, IT, Kumar facilitated the award of a Facility Management System Projects in the trade and tax department worth Rs 45.50 lakh without inviting any tenders.
  
• In Feb 2014 as Secretary to the Chief Minister of Delhi, Kumar facilitated the award of a project regarding the Enterprise Resources Planning of the Delhi Jal Board worth Rs 2.46 cr to ICSIL. In May 2014, ICSIL handed over the project to the same private company. Though this project was given in through a tender, the eligibility criteria were allegedly designed to favour the private company.
  

The details of the contracts reveal that only the last contract in February 2014 was given when Kejriwal was the chief minister, and the CBI has clarified that there is no case against him. In fact, the CBI, during its media brief, used tough words against Kejriwal’s allegations.

CBI emphatically denies having searched the office of CM, Delhi. False propaganda should not be used to impede our investigation. CBI is committed to take action against the corrupt as per law.

Devpreet Singh, CBI spokesperson

Kejriwal also made an extraordinarily sharp attack against Modi by calling him ‘a coward and a psychopath’ in his tweets. The ruling BJP government has demanded an apology from him. The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, dared the ruling government by saying,

You apologise for your action, we’ll apologise for our words.

Sisodia also accused the BJP of “misusing the CBI just like the Congress did.”

Not satisfied with the CBI’s version of events, Kejriwal in a press conference said,

CBI’s clarification is a blatant lie.

He also several raised questions as to why the ministers and other officers in the Sheila Dixit government were not questioned if the cases pertained to 2007.

Kejriwal has now declared war against the CBI. On the other hand, the CBI, which has always been criticised for being used by the ruling government, claims the ongoing investigation is fair.