Arrested in graft case, Delhi principal secretary, aide sent to police custody

Singh, principal secretary in the department of welfare of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and minorities, and Kumar were arrested Tuesday.

On Tuesday, CBI teams carried out raids on Singh’s premises on the basis of specific information that he had allegedly demanded a bribe from the complainant whose security company was providing security guards and peons to the department. “This led to the recovery of documents relating to investments made by him and his wife in eight properties worth crores in NCR, including three properties at Noida, two each at Greater Noida and Gurgaon, and one at Safdurjung Enclave in the capital”, the official added. “CBI acted on the grievance acquired from CM Office”, a Delhi authorities spokesperson stated. Fixed deposit receipts of over Rs one crore were found during searches yesterday. The 1984-batch IAS officer was caught red-handed along with his PA Ramesh when the money was being given at the officer’s Vikas Bhavan office.

Earlier during the day, Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the government had been keeping an eye for long on the arrested bureaucrat, but there was no evidence against him.

The Delhi government wrote to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to suspend Singh. He said the government had its eye on some “cutting-edge” officers. “We want to give a clear message to officers involved in corruption that they won’t be spared”.

During the hearing, the court told CBI that there was no justification for seeking seven-day police remand.

Gopal Mohan, who is Anti-corruption advisor in the CM Office, said that Vishwas was guided in trapping Singh who was arrested by the CBI while taking the bribe.

The complainant had alleged that Singh had demanded the money in return for favouring his firm.