A Delhi court on Wednesday (24 December) directed the CBI to give the Delhi government photocopies of files seized from the office of Rajendra Kumar, principal secretary of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Special Judge Vinod Kumar of the Patiala House Court directed the investigating agency to provide photocopies of the files duly attested by a responsible officer by December 28.
In the application, the government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi said the documents were seized by the CBI from the office of the principal secretary and his personal staff, and requested the court that the CBI should at least supply copies of the files to the government.
The court order said the senior public prosecutor for the CBI has conceded to this request.
Accordingly, the court directed that photocopies of the files, duly attested by a responsible officer, may be supplied to an officer duly authorised by the government of the NCT of Delhi by December 28.
“Such authorised officer shall collect the aforesaid copies from the office of the CBI during working hours.
“However, it is made clear that the question of return of original files/documents shall be determined by the concerned court,” it added posting the matter for January 6.
The application, filed by the Delhi government through standing counsel Rahul Mehra and Richa Kapoor, urged the court to direct the CBI to release the documents to the government seized “indiscriminately” by the CBI which are not related/essential for the purpose of investigation in the case.
The plea also sought initiation of “stringent action against erring officials responsible for raiding malafidely the office of the Delhi government and seizing documents to cause immense dislocation of work in the government office.
It said the entire work and functioning of the office was “greatly hampered, paralysed and dislocated”.
On December 15, the CBI raided the office of Rajendra Kumar in connection with a corruption case. The CBI denied Kejriwal’s claim that it was searching his office.
