Delhi: Fmr MP Pappu Yadav vandalises Govt bungalow before vacating it

The Jan Adhikar Party leader and Former Member of Parliament (MP) of Bihar Pappu Yadav have caused major destruction in the bungalow allotted to him in Delhi. As per reports, everything from the house such as windows, doors, tap, the floor has been uprooted and destroyed. This comes after the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs started the process of evacuating the government bungalow from former MPs. The bungalow is located in Balwant Rai Mehta Lane in Lutyens' Delhi.

Pappu Yadav has claimed that he was providing shelter for people who came from Bihar for medical treatment in Delhi. He further added that the causes of the destruction in the bungalow were done to remove the additional construction work done by him in order to before it was vacated.

Ajay Kumar, Pappu Yadav's private secretary present at the residence, claimed that there were arrangements for about 400 people to stay in the bungalow. He told, "Our MP had made arrangements to stay at the residence for the patients who used to come to Delhi from Madhepura and other areas of Bihar for treatment. ''

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Kumar, however, alleged that the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for demolishing the construction work and uprooting the window doors, but the CPWD rejected the charge and clarified that the former MP had just transferred possession of the bungalow. Kumar said, "The construction work was removed in the presence of CPWD officials on Tuesday and the window doors that came out of it were also taken by the CPWD team." 

An official of the directorate said that Pappu Yadav and his wife had reported vacating the house in a week, so they were not named in the list of those who had forcibly evacuated. The CPWD office of Lutyens Delhi has also acknowledged the knowledge of making additional arrangements for people to stay at Pappu Yadav's residence. "As per the rules, the department had given all the information related to it to the Lok Sabha Secretariat," an official said. The initiative to take action against additional construction work is done at the level of the ministry.

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The officer said that the CPWD has nothing to do with the demolition of the bungalow but at the time of transfer of possession of the bungalow, it will be taken cognizance and take action as per rules. Kumar said that Pappu Yadav is engaged in flood relief works in Bihar and will reach Delhi on Friday. After this, the possession of both bungalows will be handed over to CPWD. Pappu Yadav and Ranjit Ranjan were not available to respond to the extensive construction work and demolition in the government house.

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Public premises eviction

Earlier on September 16, about 80 former MPs who are still occupying official bungalows are likely to face "swift action", with the government notifying an amended law related to public premises eviction, an official said.

The official said that the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry notified the updated Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 2019, which ensures speedy eviction, on September 12, and it came into force on Sunday. The amended law empowers estate officers to issue show-cause notice, seeking reply of unauthorized occupants within three days, the duration reduced from 15 days, as mandated under the previous law.

The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2019, was passed by Parliament during the budget session. Around 80 former parliamentarians are yet to vacate their official bungalows in Lutyens' Delhi despite a stern warning by a Lok Sabha panel.

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(With PTI inputs)