CBI arrests Kejriwal’s principal secretary

The CBI on Monday arrested Rajendra Kumar, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s principal secretary, on corruption charges.

Mr. Kumar, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer belonging to the 1989 batch of the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, was handpicked by Mr. Kejriwal.

The arrest follows a case registered by the CBI on December 16, 2015 pertaining to allegations that Mr. Kumar abused his official position by favouring a particular firm in getting tenders from the Delhi government.

The FIR registered by the CBI said that Mr. Kumar favoured Endeavours Systems Private Limited in 2006 for a total sum of Rs. 9.5 crore when he was in charge of the education department in Delhi.

On Monday, a CBI official said Mr. Kumar has emerged as the kingpin of the scam and the scope of the corruption case had increased to Rs. 50 crore.

Endeavours Systems Private Limited was a front company of Mr. Kumar, opened in partnership with his schoolfriend Ashok Kumar, he said.

“This front company was to provide Information Technology solutions and software to Delhi government schools,” he added.