The Public Works Department (PWD) of the Delhi Government has imposed a fine of Rs 27 lakh on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for illegal occupation of a bungalow in Rouse Avenue here. The PWD has fined the party which hold the occupation of the bungalow as its party headquarters here, calling it an “unauthorised occupation”.
The PWD has issued a notice to AAP national secretary Pankaj Gupta over its continued occupation of 206, Rouse Avenue as party office at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. “As on May 31, the fine, which is essentially penal rent, amounts to Rs 27,73,802. The fine amount, which is 65 times the license fee, will pile up further if the party doesn’t vacate the premises, said sources in the Government.
In April, the PWD had issued a notice to AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal asking him to immediately vacate the office, which it said that was allotted in “violation” of rules. The party had then said that it would seek a legal recourse against this action as other political parties too have been allotted bungalows to use as office space.
The three-member Shunglu committee, formed by then lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to examine over 400 files pertaining to the decisions taken by the AAP Government, had pointed out “irregularities” in allotting the office.
In November 2015, the AAP Government had approved a policy for land allotment to State parties. The Kejriwal Government then allotted a bungalow to the AAP on Rowse Avenue Road the following year. The bungalow was earlier allotted to Asim Ahmad Khan, the then Delhi Minister, who was sacked over graft charges.
The party earlier had its office at Patel Nagar from where it held all its party functions. They shifted office to the Rouse Avenue bungalow last year.
Meanwhile, leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta on Thursday wrote a letter to the lt Governor and demanded to dismiss the PWD Minister for illegal allotment of 206, Rouse Avenue and also order to recover Rs 27 lakhs from him as rent and penalty from him for his illegal orders as the Aam Aadmi Party was not eligible, under the rules, for allotment of the Government accommodation.