New Delhi: In what may be seen as a major breakthrough against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s ex-principal secretary Rajendra Kumar, the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) forensic lab (CFSL) today confirmed the voice samples of Kumar implicating him of improperiety.
In the tapes recovered from his residence during a raid in December last year, Rajendra was heard passing on instructions to the co-accused in a corruption case.
The CFSL, after examining the audio clips, confirmed that the voice in the tape was of Kumar.
In these audio files, Kumar seems to be instructing his associates about how to influence and manipulate contracts in favour of a private company Endeavour Systems Private Limited.
The CBI has alleged that the bribes received in lieu of contracts awarded during the tenure of suspended IAS officer Rajendra Kumar, who has been arrested on allegations of corruption, were diverted to various companies and entities.
According to the agency, bribes to the extent of Rs. 3.3 crore were received in the accounts of Mr. Kumar’s “front company” Endeavour Systems Pvt. Ltd. by way of camouflaged agreements against the contracts. Works worth Rs. 33 crore were awarded to other companies in Delhi Transco Ltd. and the Trade and Taxes Department of the Delhi government. “The bribes have been further diverted to other companies or entities in the fields of real estate, education or publication,” The Hindu quotes a CBI official as saying
Kumar and four others, arrested in an alleged corruption case, were remanded in five days CBI custody on Tuesday by a special court which was told by the agency that the IAS officer was "intimidating" witnesses.
Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar sent Kumar, Deputy Secretary in Kejriwal's office Tarun Sharma, Kumar's close aide Ashok Kumar and owners of a private firm, Sandeep Kumar and Dinesh Gupta, to CBI custody.
During the hearing, CBI sought 10 days custodial interrogation of the accused, claiming that Rajendra Kumar was an influential person and it was impossible to conduct a fair probe in the matter without arresting him as he was intimidating witnesses.
"He is an influential and highly placed bureaucrat. We cannot have a fair investigation without arresting him as he was intimidating witnesses," the CBI prosecutor told the court.
At this juncture, the judge asked "is there any incident of intimidating witnesses?"
Responding to the query, the agency officer said "yes, we have recorded the statements of such witnesses."
The agency further alleged that there was a nexus among the arrested accused and Kumar was well-acquainted with all of them and that they had conspired in award of contract to Endeavour Systems Pvt Ltd.
Observing that the money trail has to be ascertained, it said the agency had the audio tapes of conversations between Kumar and other accused persons.
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