New Delhi: The directorate of vigilance of Delhi government has written to the ministry of home affairs (MHA) for the suspension of two Danics officers and initiation of disciplinary proceedings for a major penalty against them for alleged “unproductive expenditure” of Rs 97 crore on issuing political advertisements in 2015-16.
The directorate of vigilance in its communication also mentioned that five subordinate officers, who were then posted in the directorate of information and publicity (DIP), had already been placed under suspension but the Union home ministry was the competent authority to take action against Danics officers.
The two officers include Shamim Akhtar Tamanna, who is currently serving in the urban development department of Delhi government, and Manoj Dwivedi, currently posted in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
While Dwivedi could not be contacted, Tamanna said he has already appeared before CBI as a witness in the case and recorded his statement. “I will approach the President of India and the UN against harassment and injustice done to me,” he said.
The directorate of vigilance stated in the letter that the case was placed before the National Capital Civil Services Authority. The panel is chaired by chief minister Arvind Kerjiwal and has chief secretary and additional chief secretary (home) as its two members. Its recommendations were also approved by the LG.
No immediate reaction was available from Delhi government.
According to the communication sent to the home ministry, a complaint was lodged by Congress leader Ajay Maken in May 2016 for recovery of “unproductive expenditure” amounting to the tune of Rs 97 crore over advertisements of Aam Aadmi Party government. The complaint was examined by the committee on content regulation on government advertising, which was constituted by the Union ministry of information and broadcasting following a Supreme Court order on a string of writ petitions to restrain the Centre and all state governments from using public funds on advertisements intended to project individual functionaries of the government or a political party.
The three-member committee was given the responsibility to regulate the content of advertising and eliminate unproductive expenditure of government revenue by AAP government.
The committee, in its report submitted in Sep 2016, found “stark violation” of SC guidelines in advertisements published by Delhi government and directed the DIP to assess and recover the expenditure incurred on publishing advertisements outside the territory of Delhi on various anniversaries, advertisements and advertorials having name of AAP, advertisements carrying Delhi chief minister’s views on incidents in other states and those that targeted the opposition.
The DIP ascertained and quantified that an amount of Rs 97.1 crore had been spent on account of “non-conforming” advertisements of which Rs 42.2 crore had been paid to the publications through its advertising agency while the remaining Rs 54.8 crore was still pending disbursal.
The report was placed before the Delhi LG on March 29, 2017, who directed to recover the payments already released and freeze fresh payments. The DIP secretary on March 30, 2017 issued a notice for reimbursement of Rs 97 crore incurred on specified advertisements. The notice of recovery was challenged by AAP before the high court.
“However, neither a stay order was granted to AAP nor any temporary relief given. Efforts are being made by the DIP to recover the amount from AAP,” said an official.
The directorate of vigilance in its communication also mentioned that five subordinate officers, who were then posted in the directorate of information and publicity (DIP), had already been placed under suspension but the Union home ministry was the competent authority to take action against Danics officers.
The two officers include Shamim Akhtar Tamanna, who is currently serving in the urban development department of Delhi government, and Manoj Dwivedi, currently posted in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
While Dwivedi could not be contacted, Tamanna said he has already appeared before CBI as a witness in the case and recorded his statement. “I will approach the President of India and the UN against harassment and injustice done to me,” he said.
The directorate of vigilance stated in the letter that the case was placed before the National Capital Civil Services Authority. The panel is chaired by chief minister Arvind Kerjiwal and has chief secretary and additional chief secretary (home) as its two members. Its recommendations were also approved by the LG.
No immediate reaction was available from Delhi government.
According to the communication sent to the home ministry, a complaint was lodged by Congress leader Ajay Maken in May 2016 for recovery of “unproductive expenditure” amounting to the tune of Rs 97 crore over advertisements of Aam Aadmi Party government. The complaint was examined by the committee on content regulation on government advertising, which was constituted by the Union ministry of information and broadcasting following a Supreme Court order on a string of writ petitions to restrain the Centre and all state governments from using public funds on advertisements intended to project individual functionaries of the government or a political party.
The three-member committee was given the responsibility to regulate the content of advertising and eliminate unproductive expenditure of government revenue by AAP government.
The committee, in its report submitted in Sep 2016, found “stark violation” of SC guidelines in advertisements published by Delhi government and directed the DIP to assess and recover the expenditure incurred on publishing advertisements outside the territory of Delhi on various anniversaries, advertisements and advertorials having name of AAP, advertisements carrying Delhi chief minister’s views on incidents in other states and those that targeted the opposition.
The DIP ascertained and quantified that an amount of Rs 97.1 crore had been spent on account of “non-conforming” advertisements of which Rs 42.2 crore had been paid to the publications through its advertising agency while the remaining Rs 54.8 crore was still pending disbursal.
The report was placed before the Delhi LG on March 29, 2017, who directed to recover the payments already released and freeze fresh payments. The DIP secretary on March 30, 2017 issued a notice for reimbursement of Rs 97 crore incurred on specified advertisements. The notice of recovery was challenged by AAP before the high court.
“However, neither a stay order was granted to AAP nor any temporary relief given. Efforts are being made by the DIP to recover the amount from AAP,” said an official.