11 July 2016
Rajendra Kumar, a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, was arrested on the charges of awarding software contracts amounting to Rs. 95 million (US$ 2 Million) to a private firm (allegedly floated by Kumar), Endeavour Systems Private Limited.  The Delhi government suspended CM Kejriwal’s principal secretary Rajendra Kumar, hours after he was remanded under the custody of CBI.
Intelligent Communication System India Limited (ICSIL) Managing Director R.S. Kaushil and former MD G.K. Nanda, were arrested on related charges. ICSIL is a Delhi government owned company, which is a joint between Telecommunication Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation.
Ashok Kumar (Rajendra Kumar’s aide), Intelligent Communication System India Ltd.(ICSIL) manging director, Sandeep Kumar, and his predecessor Dinesh Kumar Gupta, were also arrested. CBI said that Sandeep Kumar, a long-time associate of Kumar, had confessed to his involvement in the “scam”.
VAT Department Assistant Director Tarun Sharma was also arrested on related charges. Altogether seven people have been arrested so far.
They will be produced before the Metropolitan Magistrate today with a request for further remand custody.
Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) accused Rajendra Kumar of awarding tenders to his front company Endeavour Systems Private Ltd. in violation of guidelines. It also said that the conditions of the tenders were tailored to suit the private company.
The CBI said that alleged bribes were diverted to Noida-based Educity Pedagogy and Shantiniketan Buildtech, which had started a real-estate project in Noida. During searches on Friday, the agency seized Rs. 27 lakhs (($58,000)) in cash from the premises of Mr. Kumar’s chartered accountant, Amit Goyal, in Delhi.
CBI also seized unused software packages that were bought by the VAT Department were also seized.
Whistle-blower Ashish Joshi, a 1992-batch Indian Post and Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS) officer, was Member-secretary (Finance) of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and member-secretary of Delhi Dialogue Commission, from where he was removed in May 2015. He had written to the ACB Chief MK Meena against Kumar, accusing him of corrupt practices.
Joshi had alleged that:
• Kumar had set up various companies to award work orders of departments without tenders.
• He created a computer lab called ‘Caltoonz’ at Timarpur and EDUDEL MIS. Formed Endeavours Systems Pvt Ltd and used to supply stationery to Education Department.
• He got Endeavours Systems Pvt Ltd empanelled with the PSU ICSIL and ensured IT-related work and SAP license worth more than Rs 50 crore be given to the said private company through ICSIL.
• He was made chairman of Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) even days after some alleged irregularities surfaced in the board.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed that Kumar’s arrest was politically motivated. BJP accused AAP of shielding its corrupt leaders and officials.