MCD Suspends Junior Engineer After Animal Shelter Demolition
MCD suspends JE Vikas Kumar Gupta after the demolition of Jagriti Mishra's animal shelter following CM Rekha Gupta's intervention.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has taken swift disciplinary action by suspending Junior Engineer (Building) Vikas Kumar Gupta following the controversial demolition of an animal shelter run by activist Jagriti Mishra. This move comes immediately after Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta intervened, promising justice and support for the animal welfare worker.
Immediate Suspension and Disciplinary Action
In an official order, the MCD confirmed that Vikas Kumar Gupta, posted in the Outer North Zone with BMID 40033050, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect. The order specifies that disciplinary proceedings are being contemplated against the official.
During this suspension period, the Junior Engineer will receive a subsistence allowance as per the established rules. He has been strictly instructed not to leave his station without prior permission, and his headquarters for the duration of the suspension will be the Office of the Superintending Engineer in the Outer North Zone.
Chief Minister's Intervention and Financial Aid
The suspension follows a meeting on Sunday between Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Jagriti Mishra. During the encounter, the Chief Minister offered her full support and announced a financial package of Rs 5 lakh from the CM Relief Fund to help the activist.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Chief Minister emphasized her government's stance against the misuse of power, stating:
"We have taken all necessary action to ensure that animal welfare activist Jagriti Mishra receives every possible support. An inquiry into the Junior Engineer’s conduct has been ordered, and police have been directed to register a case against those responsible. District Magistrate has been instructed to assist her in setting up the animal shelter."
The Chief Minister further warned that the government would not tolerate the harassment of citizens or the abuse of authority, promising strict legal action against those found guilty.
The Bribery Controversy and Political Clarifications
The incident reportedly began with allegations of bribery, which subsequently led to the "bulldozer action" that demolished the shelter. However, the case took a political turn when AAP MLA Jarnail Singh met with Jagriti Mishra to address these claims.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) issued a statement on X clarifying that the party had no involvement in the alleged bribery or the demolition process. According to the party, after discussions with the MLA, Jagriti Mishra expressed regret over her previous statements, effectively resolving the misunderstanding regarding the party's role in the matter.