Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar has filed a defamation case against The Wire in the Delhi High Court regarding a land dispute over the Dwarka Expressway.
According to a report by The Wire, it has been alleged that Naresh Kumar’s son Karan Chauhan has connections with a family that allegedly received increased compensation when a plot of land was acquired by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the Dwarka Expressway.
Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar has requested the Delhi High Court to remove a report from online news portal The Wire, which has raised concerns about Kumar’s involvement in the National Highways Authority of India’s land acquisition for the Dwarka Expressway project.
The Wire reported that Karan Chauhan, son of Naresh Kumar, had connections to a family that received increased compensation for land acquisition by NHAI for the Dwarka Expressway.
Kumar is requesting the removal of an article and urging The Wire and reporter Meetu Jain to prevent further defamatory content.
The court has reviewed the arguments presented by Senior Counsel Maninder Singh and has scheduled a further hearing for Tuesday.
The Wire reported on November 9, 2023, that Chauhan, son of Delhi Chief Secretary, had connections to a family that received increased compensation for a 19-acre plot of land acquired by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for the Dwarka Expressway.
On November 13, Kumar sent a legal notice to The Wire and Meetu Jain, requesting them to remove an article they deemed defamatory, false, baseless, and misleading. The notice claimed Kumar took cognisance of the issue and ensured no wrongful loss to public exchequer.
Kumar recommended that the case be referred to the CBI on October 20, 2023.
It has been reported that Delhi’s Vigilance Minister, Atishi, has submitted a preliminary report on the issue to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
According to the investigation, it has been alleged that Naresh Kumar benefitted from a company linked to his son, reportedly making profits of ₹897 crore.
Atishi suggested CBI investigation and Kumar’s suspension to prevent influence. Kejriwal forwarded the report to LG VK Saxena, who requested Kumar’s suspension and immediate removal as Chief Secretary.
The Vigilance Minister in India has sent a report alleging that Kumar’s son profited from a project related to Delhi’s ILBS Hospital. The report claimed that Kumar’s son’s company was given the job without tender, resulting in a profit of hundreds of crores. However, LG VK Saxena rejected the report, stating it was based on the minister’s preconceived assumption and could hinder the ongoing investigation. The matter is already before the Supreme Court and being probed by the CBI. The leak of the confidential report suggests the motive was to initiate a media trial.
