Amid the continuing attack by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the CBI action against his Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar, the CBI on Wednesday said the “blatantly incorrect information” is being spread to obstruct investigation and discredit the agency.
“CBI categorically denies having seized any material during the searches which are not relevant to the investigation. CBI seizures during the searches at 14 places were in the presence of independent witnesses, as per procedure laid down by law. The search-cum-seizure memo containing details of seized items will be produced before the competent court,” a CBI spokesperson said.
Unfazed by criticism over its action, the CBI continued with its probe and questioned Kumar for nine hours on Wednesday along with two other accused — Managing Director of Intelligent Communication System India ltd. (ICSIl) RS Kaushi and Director of accused private Endeavour Systems Dinesh Gupta. The agency sources claimed that it has recovered documents pertaining to bank balances of approximately Rs28 lakh from Kumar, a 1989-batch IAS officer from AGMUT cadre, who is facing probe for allegedly favouring a private firm in government contracts.
The documents pertaining to fixed deposits worth Rs1.66 crore were allegedly found from A K Duggal, former MD, ICSIl, CBI sources claimed.
The agency grilled Kumar for the second day on Wednesday. Kumar arrived at the CBI building at around 9.40 am for the questioning in connection with the case registered against him and six others on December 14. He left the CBI headquarters at 6.45 pm and refused to take any questions from the mediapersons.
The CBI said that it has registered a case against Kumar and others on allegations against the officer that he abused his official position by “favouring a particular firm in the last few years in getting tenders from Delhi Government departments”.
Kumar has been booked under Sections 120-B of IPC (criminal conspiracy), and 13(2), 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Criminal conspiracy, criminal misconduct etc) for allegedly favouring a private company in five contracts worth Rs9.5 crore during 2007-14.
CBI carried out searches at 14 places connected with Kumar in the national Capital, including his residence and office at Secretariat, and various locations in Uttar Pradesh.
The agency has claimed to have recovered about Rs16 lakh, including Rs2.4 lakh in cash, foreign currency of the value of Rs3 lakh from the residence of Kumar.
“Blatantly incorrect information is being spread by certain quarters since yesterday to discredit the agency with the intent to obstruct investigation….Further, the CBI neither prevented now disallowed any person in their movement to the various offices in the Delhi Secretariat including the Chief Minister’s office except the office chamber of his Seceratry, Rajendra Kumar and that of his PA,” CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh said.