Delhi Vigilance Dept Serves Notice to IAS Udit Prakash Rai for Demolishing 15th-century Monument

The Delhi authorities’s vigilance division has served a discover to senior IAS officer Udit Prakash Rai for the development of an official lodging following the demolition of a 15th-century monument throughout his tenure as DJB’s chief govt officer.

The monument, a “Mahal” (palace) of the Pathan period and the only remnant of the Khizrabad city founded by Khizr Khan of the Sayyid dynasty was located at Jal Vihar area near Lajpat Nagar in southeast Delhi.

Multiple political parties, including the BJP and Trinamool Congress, have demanded action over the demolition of the monument.

“Only in India. Fifteenth-century monument demolished to construct govt officer’s bungalow. Are the Archaeological Survey of India and Ministry of Culture napping yet again? Urging G Kishan Reddy (Union Minister For Culture and Tourism) to look at this,” TMC MP Mahua Moitra tweeted.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, in a letter to the Delhi LG, demanded a high-level probe into the matter.

The monument was within the means of being handed over to the Archaeology division by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). However, in a joint inspection by the division and DJB in January this 12 months, it was discovered lacking, mentioned the vigilance division’s discover issued on Wednesday.

Rai has been given two weeks to reply to the discover. In August 2022, Delhi L G V Ok Saxena advisable to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) motion in opposition to Rai for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 50 lakh.

A 2007 batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre, Rai is at present posted in Mizoram. No response was instantly out there from him over the Vigilance division discover.

The monument was talked about within the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) checklist of ‘Muhammadan and Hindu monuments’ of Delhi. It comprised a palace (mahal) and a gateway that also exists whereas the previous was gone, mentioned the discover.

The ‘Mahal’ comprised three arched dalan flanked by two compartments constructed with purple sandstone and brick masonry.

The discover cited notes of DJB officers mentioning that the monument was in a dilapidated state and was to be handed over to the archaeology division for instant intervention to put it aside after a go to in January 2021.

“and omissions, the officer actively facilitated the demolition of the traditional monument and prevented the identical from getting handed over to the archaeology division for its safety,” the notice claimed.

It said that the inspection report following the visit on January 12, 2023, mentioned that the monument was not seen in the precincts of the residential complex owned by DJB.

“The Mahal of Pathan period was allegedly demolished as per the directions of Udit Prakash Rai, CEO (DJB) with the help of DJB engineers,” the discover mentioned naming 5 engineers of the Board.

Rai was entitled to a Type V authorities lodging however the built-up space of the brand new home for the DJB CEO that had been constructed rather than the monument was 700 sq. metres. It exceeded the prescribed space of 403 sq. metres for a Type VIII lodging, added the discover.

The Delhi BJP chief, within the letter to the Lt Governor, mentioned a high-level probe was wanted as a 15th-century monument was demolished for the “unlawful” construction of the DJB CEO’s residence.

The revelation of the construction of DJB CEO’s bungalow violating laws during Covid after a similar revelation of spending Rs 45 crore on the Delhi chief minister’s bungalow, “speaks volumes” in regards to the “insensitivity” of Arvind Kejriwal government, alleged Sachdeva.

He also demanded a probe into the role of the former minister Satyendar Jain, under whom Rai worked, in the matter.

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