Arvind Kejriwal's former secretary facing corruption charges

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's former secretary Rajendra Kumar facing corruption charges seeking voluntary retirement has set speculation in the city political circles that the senior bureaucrat may soon take a political plunge. Sources indicated that Kumar could be used by Aam Admi Party (AAP) to counter Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre in the coming assembly elections in Punjab, Gujarat and Goa followed by municipal polls in the city early next year. Kumar has alleged political vendetta and victimisation as the reason for the corruption case against him being probed by CBI.

Sources said that Kejriwal may nominate Rajendra Kumar as a member of Rajya Sabha. After winning assembly polls with 67 seats, the AAP is entitled to all three Rajya Sabha seats from Delhi.

Polls to the three Rajya Sabha seats from Delhi were held in 2012, leading to the election of three Congressmen — Janardan Dwivedi, Parvez Hashmi and Karan Singh. Rajya Sabha MPs enjoy a six-year term, so they will remain in office till January 27, 2018.

In a 26-page letter to the Delhi chief secretary M M Kutty on Wednesday, Kumar has alleged that he was repeatedly told by the interrogators to implicate the Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal.

The senior IAS officer, who had been given a chargesheet by the CBI in a corruption case, has already started playing victim by accusing the investigating agency of framing him under false charges.

Kumar joined the political brigade to take on the saffron party gained significance in the wake of his statement that he would serve people till the end. He also stated politics was one such route through which he could serve the people.

Kumar, who was the man-Friday of Kejriwal, was responsible for all major policy and decisions till he was booked for corruption by the CBI.

Soon after the Chief Minister's Office was raided, Kejriwal had launched a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for indulging in 'vendetta' politics. His tweet "Is Modi a psychopath" was criticised vehemently by his political rivals.

Sources said that the timing of Kumar's request for Voluntary Retirement Scheme after declaration of assembly poll dates for five states clearly indicates that he too was looking forward to join politics in the near future.

"Otherwise why should any officer with chargesheet seek Voluntary Retirement Scheme when rules clearly suggest that VRS is given only after vigilance clearance from both Centre and State administration," a senior officer said.

There are also indications that Kumar may join AAP and campaign in neighbouring Punjab against Modi for using CBI against the AAP government.

"He may ask how Centre used to intervene in each and every action taken by the AAP government," a IAS officer posted in Delhi government said.

Kumar alleged that CBI has beaten up dozens of people, and some of them sustained permanent major injuries. He added that they were same set of people in CBI who forced B K Bansal and his son to commit suicide.

Refuting the allegations brought by Kumar, CBI said that "is is absolutely baseless". "Some accused who were arrested during the course of investigation had the opportunity to bring up the alleged physical assault by the CBI when they were produced before the court. But no such allegation was made at the relevant time, except one person, who had filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court, but had to withdraw the same after the court observed that he is trying to spoil the system and scare away the probe agency."

The agency also said that making such baseless allegations at this moment is only an attempt to influence the matter which is subjudice.

Sources said that the if the 1989-batch IAS officer, who has worked in various capacities in Delhi government, wanted to take Voluntary Retirement Scheme, he should have sent a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs along with chief secretary but he did not do so.