Delhi public works department (PWD) minister Rajkumar Chauhan was not the only one who tried to influence Jalaj Shrivastava, former commissioner (Trade &Taxes) under whose supervision the department of trade and taxes conducted raids at Tivoli Gardens and other high profile banquet halls in February- March last year.

Days after the raids, many people including a member of parliament and an MCD councillor contacted Shrivastava not to pursue the matter.
Shrivastava made these revelations in an internal note dated 22- 06- 2010 and circulated within the office of the chief secretary, Delhi.

Delhi government’s administrative reforms department has provided a copy of this note in response to the RTI application filed by Delhi based social activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal.

“Off hand, this would show the clout exercised by the said dealer and the extent to which he would go to use influence. This however, made us more careful to assess the said dealer,” Shrivastava had said.

It appears from the note that Shrivastava was aware of the nexus between resort owners and politicians.

“Naturally, we are apprehensive of repercussions from these vested interests, as some of our subordinate staff have expressed to the under signed,” he had noted.

The matter was probed by Delhi Lokayukta who recommended sacking of PWD minister Rajkumar Chauhan.

However, the state government did not take any action against Chauhan.

In May, the president office also gave clean chit to the minister.

The Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin’s office has written to the minister of home affairs asking reasons for rejecting his recommendation in the case.