Delhi government’s Public Works Department (PWD) has slapped a fine of Rs 27 lakh on the AAP for illegal occupation of a bungalow in Rouse Avenue in Delhi. PWD handed out a notice to AAP national secretary Pankaj Gupta over its continuous occupation of 206, Rouse Avenue as party office.
Reportedly, as on May 31, the fine, which is fundamentally penal rent, amounts to Rs 27,73,802. The fine amount that is 65 times the license fee will load further if the party doesn’t evacuate the buildings, said the sources.
Earlier, PWD issued a notice to AAP’s National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal asking him to vacate the office immediately. However, the party had then said that it would seek a legal recourse against this action. AAP said other political parties too have been assigned bungalows to use as office space.
The three-member committee formed by the then Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had showed “irregularities” in allotting the office. In Nov 2015, the AAP government had permitted a policy for land allowance to state parties. Then the Kejriwal government allotted a bungalow to the AAP on Rouse Avenue.
Earlier, the bungalow was allotted to Asim Ahmed Khan, the then Delhi minister. He was sacked over graft charges.
