Five months after SB Deepak Kumar was shunted out of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) for misusing his position as its chief executive officer (CEO) and spending lakhs on sprucing up his official residence in Sector 16, the governing body of the board on Friday gave two options to the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer: either take back all the items -- which he returned to the board -- and pay the amount, or pay the balance amount once the board auctions the items.
The total expenditure on various items, including air-conditioners, furniture and bathroom accessories, made by SB Deepak Kumar at his “camp office” (house number 507, Sector 16), was Rs 24 lakh (see box). It was done without the board’s approval.
The Friday board meeting was held under the chairmanship of Maninder Singh Bains and was attended by UT chief engineer Mukesh Anand and board members Tarsem Chand Garg and Prem Kaushik. The members unanimously decided that since the IAS officer misused his official position, causing a huge loss to the board, the money should be recovered from him.
On December 15, last year, HT highlighted that Kumar had spent Rs 40 lakh on sprucing up his official residence in Sector 16, even as he was holding the additional charge as the board CEO. On July 15 this year, after the then UT administrator, Kaptan Singh Solanki, divested Deepak Kumar of this charge, he had returned all items bought using the board’s fund.
{{/usCountry}}On December 15, last year, HT highlighted that Kumar had spent Rs 40 lakh on sprucing up his official residence in Sector 16, even as he was holding the additional charge as the board CEO. On July 15 this year, after the then UT administrator, Kaptan Singh Solanki, divested Deepak Kumar of this charge, he had returned all items bought using the board’s fund.
{{/usCountry}}SB Deepak Kumar could not be contacted for comment as his phone was switched off. CHB chairman Maninder Singh refused to comment on the development.
MOBILE CONTROVERSY
In December last year, SB Deepak Kumar had demanded purchase of a smartphone worth Rs 50,000 for his use. He had already bought one phone of the same amount using the board’s funds.The then CHB secretary, Adapa Karthik, had rejected the demand, stating there was no policy on purchase of electronic items by board employees.