Delhi Assembly Secretary Suspended by MHA Due to “Irregularities” in Flyover Project

Delhi News: Raj Kumar, the Delhi Assembly secretary, has been suspended by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) due to suspected irregularities in the Rani Jhansi flyover during his term. An order from the home ministry dated April 16 states that Kumar is the subject of a “disciplinary proceeding.”

The MHA decision noted, “Therefore, the President hereby places the said Shri Raj Kumar, DANICS, under suspension with immediate effect in exercise of the powers conferred by subrule(1)(a) of Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965.”

Notably, in September of last year, top Delhi government officials on a panel recommended that Kumar, a DANICS officer, be suspended by the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA).

Raj Kumar responded to his suspension by saying he was not given the opportunity to provide his own version of events.

The MHA order pertaining to my suspension has been sent to me. I have nothing further to say at this time since it’s an old matter and I was not given the opportunity to defend myself,” the senior officer told news agency PTI.

Officials claim that the charges against the member of the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Island Civil Services (DANICS) cadre have to do with his time spent working for the city administration as an auxiliary district magistrate, or land acquisition collector.

2018 saw the flyover over Rani Jhansi reopen to the public after a protracted 20-year wait. North Delhi’s St Stephen’s Hospital and the Filmistan Cinema Hall were joined by a 1.8-kilometer grade separator.

At a cost of Rs 724 crore, it was built by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is now a part of the united MCD, according to authorities. They also said that the flyover’s construction was delayed due to accusations of corruption and issues with acquiring property.

According to the authorities, the Central Vigilance Commission was previously directed by a Lokpal panel on November 3, 2022, to take notice of the existing records and current legal proceedings, assign blame, and retrieve overpayments associated with the flyover’s construction.