IAS vs IAS: Ex-DJB CEO says ‘harassed’ by vigilance official

NEW DELHI: IAS officer and former DJB CEO Udit Prakash Rai has alleged harassment by Special Secretary (Vigilance) YVVJ Rajasekhar, who is supervising a probe against him in connection with the demolition of a heritage palace here, official sources in the Delhi government said on Sunday.

However, Rajasekhar, also an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has claimed that the probe was based on “documentary evidence” and everything was on record. The heritage structure, a remnant of the Sayyid dynasty, was allegedly demolished for the construction of the official residence of the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in South Delhi’s Kilokari area during Rai’s tenure at the post.

No response could be elicited on the issue from Rai, a 2007-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, who is currently posted in Mizoram, despite repeated calls and messages. In multiple complaints to the Union home ministry, the Delhi lieutenant governor and the Delhi chief minister, Rai has also demanded that Rajasekhar be replaced by a secretary-level officer to supervise the probe against him.

In four complaints lodged by Rai over a period of four days from May 30 to June 2, Rajasekhar has been accused of “harassment” targeting his family, including his wife and children, as well, the officials said.
They said that Rai in his complaints has alleged harassment by Rajasekhar during the course of the probe.
Rajasekhar, a 2012-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, claimed that the probe against Rai was “documentary evidence-based” and everything was on record.

“It was already confirmed by a joint inspection report by the archaeology department and the DJB that a medieval heritage monument was demolished,” he said. The vigilance directorate tried to conduct an inspection in the presence of Rai, but the officer locked his official residence and did not allow the inspection to happen, Rajasekhar claimed.