Despite shooting a volley of questions to Arvind Kejriwal’s Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar, the CBI has failed to extract some substantial information from Kumar in the alleged irregularities in tendering process during his tenure between 2007 and 2013.
On the fourth consecutive day on Friday, CBI grilled Kumar for 10 hours. Kumar is said to have briefed Kejriwal late on Friday night about his questioning.
Insiders said unless the CBI has adequate substances on record, they cannot take next crucial step. However, the absence of Kumar from office is hampering the day to day functioning of CMO.
Insiders said the agency is focusing on around 10 key questions related to awarding of tenders to the Endeavour Systems Private limited through Intelligent Computer System India limited (ICSIl) leading to a loss of about `10 crore to the State exchequer. The investigating agency had asked Kumar whether he had promoted Endeavour Systems since 2007 onwards by misusing his official position and facilitated tenders worth `9.5 crore to the said firm.
The officer reportedly told the investigating agency that neither he nor any of his relatives was a director, shareholder or even employee of the company. He said the amount of the order was in fact a matter of record.
The CBI reported to have also questioned whether Sandeep Kumar, one of the directors of the said company, was a relative of Ashok Kumar, who was earlier working under him. The CBI also asked whether a project related to MIS for Delhi Transco ltd was given to Endeavour Systems between and a payment of `40,61,465 was made by ICSIl to Endeavours from February 2010 to March 2011 and he himself had initiated the proposal as he was posted as Chairman of the Delhi
Transco ltd.
The CBI also grilled Kumar about a project related to manpower for the health and family welfare department. He was asked whether the project was given to the Endeavour by ICSIl in 2010 without calling any tender or quotation. The agency asked him whether vide his email on October 20, 2010 he had sent an attachment to the ICSIl MD wherein salaries were quoted against individual posts.
The CBI reportedly asked whether Ramesh Chugh, State Programme Officer of Delhi State Health Mission, vide his letter dated November 10, 2010 had requested the ICSIl MD to provide manpower for e-project. The agency also asked whether the rates so quoted by the Endeavour were communicated by ICSIl to Ramesh Chugh, who in turn communicated to the ICSIl through a letter on December 1, 2010 that the competent authority has approved the rates provided by the ICSIl.
In all an amount of `2,43,81,594 had been paid by the ICSIl to Endeavour. At that time, Kumar was the health secretary and A K Duggal was the MD of the ICSIl. According to agency, Kumar has denied charges.
The document pertaining to DJB revealed that the work order for project related to enterprise resource planning was given by ICSIl to Endeavour through an open bid. Sources said Kumar has told the agency that he has never worked in DJB and therefore there is no question of him influencing its procurement decisions. The work was awarded during the President’s Rule, so there was no question of anybody being a Secretary to CM as no CM existed as on August 25, 2014 when the tenders were opened.
On the work awarded to Trade and Taxes department, Kumar told the agency that he had no role in this as he was not in the Trade and Taxes
department during the period of allegation.