Rajendra Kumar moves court for release of laptop, iPad, cash

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's principal secretary Rajendra Kumar, against whom CBI has lodged a corruption case, has moved a special court seeking the release of his laptop, iPad and cash seized during the investigation.
Kumar submitted that his articles should be returned as investigation was over and the items would be of no use to the probe agency.
Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Jain fixed the application for April 18 for filing of reply by the probe agency and hearing arguments.
CBI prosecutor sought time to file reply on the plea saying the investigation officer was unwell.
Kumar, in his application, said the agency can keep the back-up of the data stored in the laptop and iPad with them but release the articles as well as the seized cash.

On December 15 last year, CBI had raided the office of Rajendra Kumar, close to the Chief Minister's office here, in connection with the case.

According to the CBI, "Rajender Kumar had played an active role in the process of promising and facilitating award of tender to a pre determined party i.E., M/s Endeavour Systems Pvt Ltd due to extraneous considerations and devoid of public interest which shows clear element of abuse of official position and criminal conspiracy among the accused persons including the Directors of the present applicant company."
CBI had registered the case against Kumar and others on the allegations against the officer that he had abused his official position by favouring the firm in the last few years in getting tenders from Delhi government departments.

Kumar has been booked under section 120-B of IPC (criminal conspiracy), and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly favouring the company in five contracts worth Rs 9.5 crore during 2007-14.