Don't launch probe against former NDMC head, says Dikshit

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit has sought home minister P Chidambaram’s intervention to see to it that the CBI is not given permission in a “haste” to probe the role of IAS officer and former NDMC chairman Parimal Rai in alleged irregularities in implementation of a CWG project by the civic agency.

In a letter to Chidambaram last week, Dikshit noted that a number of officers had to take certain decisions bypassing laid down norms and procedures to ensure speedy implementation of the CWG projects and due care must be taken in allowing any investigation against them.

The Delhi government had rejected the findings of the Shunglu committee and CAG on the same grounds. Both CAG and Shunglu committee had slammed Delhi government for alleged irregularities in a number of CWG projects.

The CBI is currently probing alleged irregularities in a number of CWG projects and the probe agency had approached the Home Ministry in examining role of Rai in execution of NDMC’s convention centre in Connaught Place.

A 1985 batch IAS officer, Rai was made Delhi’s power secretary in August 2011 and was transferred to Goa last month.

Describing Rai as an upright officer, she said there is a need to protect officers who worked hard in ensuring speedy completion of the CWG projects despite various hurdles. She said the officials had to take decisions considering the extraordinary situation in the run up to the games. “The government must consider this aspect before taking a decision.”

Rai had also written a letter to Dikshit in which he cited various success stories of the NDMC under his leadership.