Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Raj Kumar has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary to the Gujarat government. Raj Kumar, a 1987-batch IAS officer, is currently serving as the Additional Chief Secretary in the state Home Department. The 58-year-old bureaucrat will replace incumbent chief secretary Pankaj Kumar, who is retiring on January 31, a notification from the state General Administration Department (GAD) read.
Raj Kumar, a native of Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, spent nearly six years at the Centre after he was sent on Central deputation in 2015. His last posting at the Centre was as Secretary, Defence Production. He also served as the Director General, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Delhi, during his deputation.
Post his repatriation to Gujarat, Kumar was made ACS-Home in December 2021. After Pankaj Kumar and 1986-batch IAS officer Vipul Mittra, Raj Kumar will be the third most senior bureaucrat in the state.
However, ever since the announcement, murmurs have been rife about Kumar’s “immovable assets” such as a bungalow, plot and an apartment, totalling Rs. 2.36 crore.
Who is IAS Raj Kumar:
Born in 1965 in Uttar Pradesh, Kumar hold a Masters degree in Public Policy. He is a 1987 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre and is currently Additional Chief Secretary – Home, Government of Gujarat. He was appointed as Assistant Collector in the Government of Gujarat in 1989. Ever since, he has held nearly 20 different appointments by the Central Government.
What “immovable assets” does he hold?
Nearly five. He owns one bungalow in his name, two plots and an apartment jointly with his wife and a plot inherited from wife’s mother. In all, the assets total Rs 2,36,99,000.
Details of the properties:
1. Plot No 497/A, Sector-1 at Gandhinagar, measuring 330 square meters. This land was purchased from the state government in 2002 at the then cost of Rs 19,14,411. A loan of Rs 10 lakhs was availed of from State Bank Of India in 2005 for construction on the plot. The bungalow is currently on rent and garners an annual income of Rs 3,42,000.
2. Plot No 42 at Sarghasan village, a 165 square meters square of non- agricultural land. This land was purchased in the name of his wife Sharmil Rajkumar from one Abjibhai Karamashibhai and other persons on 22/10/2007 by a registered sale deed. This property was picked up for Rs 99,600 and is now priced at Rs 17,23,000.
3. A 590 sq yard plot at Survey No 159 (non-agricultural) in Kalol Taluka, Gandhinagar. This has been jointly bought with his wife from one GSS REALITY. It was purchased in 2011 for 9,38,700 and has soared to a current market price of Rs 16,00,000.
4. Apartment E-506 at RG Residency in Gautam Buddhnagar, Sector 120, Noida, was bought jointly with his wife by taking a loan from ICICI BANK- ALLAHBAD BANK. Bought at Rs 84.82 lakhs, it has devalued to Rs 76.18 lakhs, current price.
5. Kumar also owns a 684 sq mtrs piece of land at Plot 36 at Khoraj village, Gandhinagar. This he inherited from his mother-in-law in 2021. The purchase price of this land in 2007 was Rs 4.25 lakh. Today, the same has appreciated to Rs 37.58 lakhs.
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