In a decisive move to combat corruption within the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Mayor Dr Shelly Oberoi has taken stern action against a senior officer accused of bribery in a case of house tax evasion. The Mayor’s office received a complaint regarding the property of a very influential person in Sector-9, Rama Krishna Puram, New Delhi and subsequent allegations of the officer’s alleged involvement in corrupt practices. As per the complaints, MCD’s Chief Assessor and Collector Kunal Kashyap purportedly provided undue favours to the influential person in the said case of house tax evasion to the tune of Rs 4 crore. This instance has also raised suspicion on the quantum of loss faced by MCD due to such cases. Alarmed at the scale of evasion in just one case to the tune of Rs 4 crores, the Mayor remarked that MCD must have suffered a huge dent running into thousands of crores due to other such cases, and perhaps would have been in profit had they been dealt honestly under the past governments.
Ordering action against the officer, Mayor Dr Shelly Oberoi highlighted the CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, saying there is no scope for corrupt practices in the reformed MCD administration under the AAP Government.
Kunal Kashyap is now under investigation for allegedly ‘deliberately delaying the handling of the tax evasion case’, fueled by allegations of bribery. Allegations and complaints have been received against him in many other cases.
Expressing deep concern over the gravity of the situation, the Mayor issued a note to the Commissioner directing prompt action against the officer. Through the note, the Mayor also emphasised on the challenging financial situation faced by the MCD and denounced the actions of officers who prioritise personal gain over the greater good. “MCD is struggling to keep afloat financially and has no funds to do public welfare work. On the other hand, such officers are foregoing huge amounts of house tax by taking bribes. Such officers should know that now the regime has changed in MCD,” she noted.
To ensure transparency and accountability, a comprehensive vigilance check has been directed on all aspects of Kunal Kashyap’s work, from his date of joining until the present. This investigation aims to shed light on any potential misconduct or irregularities that may have occurred during his tenure.
In a further demonstration of the Mayor’s commitment to eradicating corruption, the Commissioner has been instructed to withdraw all responsibilities from Kunal Kashyap and appoint an officer of impeccable integrity in his place. This step aims to uphold the principles of ethical governance within the MCD and restore public trust in its functioning.
Giving more details about the development, Dr Shelly Oberoi stated that the AAP Government of MCD is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability in the corporation. “The allegations of house tax evasion and bribery against the Chief Assessor & Collector are deeply troubling. We will not tolerate corruption in any form,” she added.
The Mayor also said that in line with CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s anti-corruption policy the MCD is determined to root out such practices and restore public faith in the administration. “We will appoint an officer of high integrity to replace him. Our message is clear: Corruption has no place in the new AAP regime of the MCD,” Dr Oberoi concluded.
