Kejriwal writes to LG, seeks top official's removal

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday forwarded to lieutenant governor VK Saxena the supplementary report submitted by vigilance minister Atishi which alleged that the Delhi government-run Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) signed an agreement to illicitly benefit a company co-founded by chief secretary Naresh Kumar's son, according to officials aware of the matter. Kejriwal recommended that the LG immediately remove Kumar as the chief secretary and chief vigilance officer, lest he influence the proceedings of the probe.

In the report submitted to the CM on Friday, Atishi alleged that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was illegally signed between ILBS and MetaMix, co-founded by Naresh Kumar's son Karan Chauhan along with two others, to set up a new artificial intelligence unit at the hospital despite lacking the adequate qualification or track record. Kumar, as chief secretary, is head of the ILBS governing council.

On Saturday, Atishi sent a 12-page "additional facts" report to Kejriwal and alleged that in the last 24 hours, multiple social media posts, including the one announcing the MoU, website links and profiles of people involved in the matter which were available until a few days ago - have been removed. HT has seen a copy of the latest report.

The minister said Saturday's report was further grounds for Kumar's immediate suspension and an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation.