The operations of a kiosk outside Palika Bazar, run by the caterer of a New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officers’ club who was recently arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a hawala case, may come under the scanner, sources said.
In early August, the CBI conducted a search of the Palika Services Officers Institute (PSOI) and found records of alleged hawala transactions of senior government officers, 21 watches, ₹80 lakh and jewellery worth ₹1.6 crore from the office of the caterer, Rakesh Tiwari, The Hindu had reported on August 13. The CBI arrested Mr. Tiwari, who remains in judicial custody.
An NDMC document revealed the civic body’s Estate Department had on May 19, 2017, ordered the handover of a kiosk outside Palika Bazar to PSOI.
Provisional allotment
“The Competent Authority has approved provisional allotment of one kiosk on the left side of Gate No. 1 Palika Bazar to PSOI for sale of soft drinks with emphasis on nature based cold drinks, healthy and ayurvedic recipes affordable price through its existing caterer [sic],” the document states.
Since Mr. Tiwari is the caterer for PSOI, the operation of what became the “NDMC Cafe” was handed over to him, said four NDMC officials, both current and former.
Consultant roped in
A senior NDMC official said the kiosk had not been allotted to the caterer directly, but had been given to the PSOI and there was a plan to auction it.
A consultant had been roped in to advise on the e-auction, the official added. Over a year since the site was handed over, the kiosk has not been auctioned so far, officials said.
Meanwhile,the NDMC was looking into the matter which could come up during a Council meeting scheduled on Thursday, officials said.
