IAS Officer Gets Showcause Notice For Razing Historical Monument To Build Bungalow

New Delhi: The Delhi government’s vigilance department has sent a showcause notice to former Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO Udit Prakash for allegedly demolishing a historical monument to construct a bungalow.

The IAS officer has been asked to respond within two weeks.

Rai, currently posted in Mizoram, has been accused of demolishing a historical structure to get his official residence built, in violation of rules, while he was chief executive officer of DJB.

The Archaeology department of Delhi government had identified Mahal of Pathan as a protected historic building in December 11, 2020. They wrote to DJB on January 19, 2021, asking them to hand over the land to archaeology department.

The charge against Rai is that he gave permission to build a bungalow. His family still lives in the bungalow, while he has been transferred to Mizoram.

The Archaeology department, Jal Board and Vigilance Department visited the site on January 9, 2023.

According to Archaeology department, there were two structures of Mahal of Pathan, one of which was demolished.