The Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP) served a notice requiring the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government to pay Rs 163.61 crore within ten days on January 11.
The Delhi government has received a recovery notice for allegedly conducting political advertisements in 2016–17 while posing as official government advertisements.
Nearly a month ago, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena took legal proceedings against the Aam Aadmi Party after charging that the party was airing political advertising rather than official ones.
The notice stated, “A final opportunity is hereby given to reimburse the amount of Rs 163,61,88,265 (Rs One hundred and sixty-three crores, sixty-one lakhs, eighty-eight thousand, two hundred and sixty-five only) by depositing the said amount in the account details given below within 10 days of issuing of this notice, failing which further necessary action as per law will be taken in this matter.”
In response to the notice, Delhi deputy commissioner Manish Sisodia wrote on Twitter, “See the illegitimate, unconstitutional control over officers in Delhi. BJP has made Delhi Government’s Information Department secretary Alice Vaz to serve us a notice that from 2017, the cost of advertisements given in other states will be recovered from chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.”
He further added, “Advertisement of chief ministers of all BJP states are published in the newspapers of Delhi, government hoardings with photos of their chief ministers have been put up all over Delhi. Will their expenses be recovered from the BJP chief ministers? Is that why BJP wants to keep the officers of Delhi under unconstitutional control?”
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