L-G recommends suspension of bureaucrat

New Delhi 

Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday recommended the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to suspend and initiate “major penalty proceedings” against a Delhi government bureaucrat for alleged corruption.

According to sources, the official is accused of illegally transferring land worth crores of rupees belonging to the Delhi government’s Forest Department, located in north Delhi’s Zindpur village, to a private party. 

A complaint in this regard was filed in 2021. Sources said the present case is a part of a “land scam” which has already resulted in the suspension of 5 officers — an ADM, two SDMs, a sub-registrar and a deputy secretary posted in the Delhi Chief Minister’s office, on the instructions of the L-G last month.

The instance of “grave irregularity”, sources said, had pointed to a pattern revolving around the subtle and illegal sale of parcels of Gram Sabha land across the Capital — especially north and south Delhi.

The sources added that complaints related to the lands were being “minutely” investigated by Mr. Saxena since he took over as the Capital’s L-G.

The L-G has, according to sources, instructed that such complaints be investigated and disposed of as fast as possible. Meanwhile, action against more government officials involved in similar “scams” is in the offing over the coming days.

The sources said Mr. Saxena had approved the initiation of major penalty proceedings and recommended to the MHA the suspension of Nitin Jindal (DANICS) who was holding the position of ADM (North) under the Revenue Department when the alleged illegal transfer of land took place.