After The Pioneer exposé, the Ministry of Urban Development (UDM) has issued a showcause notice to the Centre for Applied Politics (CAP), Narendra Niketan, asking why a plot of land allotted to it should not be cancelled over violation of terms of allotment. The CAP was founded by former Prime Minister late Chandra Shekhar and is located at a prime property at ITO. The showcause notice was issued by Deputy land and Development Officer Rajanish Kumar Jha.
The property measuring 2,000 yards near ITO is estimated to be worth about Rs 500 crore. It has become a bone of contention between the Samajwadi Janata Party and the Centre for Applied Politics (CAP) Narendra Niketan.
PS Prasad, who is a close aide of late Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, had approached the UDM and Cabinet Secretary with a plea that the said premises was encroached upon by a political party (Samajwadi Janta Party-Chandra Shekhar) and a few private persons and land and Development Office of UDM has not taken any action against them.
The Election Commission of India has written to the land and Development Office of Ministry of Urban Development about misuse of the purpose for which the land was allotted to the CAP. The Central Vigilance Commission has also forwarded a complaint pertaining to the allotment.
Recently, the Election Commission de-recognised the SJP (Chandra Shekhar). According to Prasad, the CAP does not have any office at the said property. At present, there is a signboard in the name of CAP outside the property, near police headquarters at ITO. When this reporter visited at CAP he was told that that the centre has been shifted to Vasant Kunj, and now this premises is the office of SJP-Chandra Shekhar.
Prasad claimed that the CAP does not have any electricity, telephone and water connection. The l&DO and South Delhi Municipal Corporation have issued notices in the name Secretary General of the Centre. He alleged that despite inspection by l&DO officials in 2015 after which they directed that encroachments be removed within 30 days, no action has been taken till date.
The said property was inspected by the l&DO officials vide inspection ID no ID12468 and after ascertaining that the land was being misused a notice no l&DO/lS2B/1(309)/251 of August 26, 2015 was issued to CAP saying, “You are therefore hereby required to remedy the breaches within 30 days from the date of receipt of this notice failing which action to re-enter the premises under clause of the lease will be taken against you without any further notice in the matter.”