Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has written to central vigilance commissioner P.K. Srivastava, accusing Bengal chief secretary H.K. Dwivedi of drawing house rent allowance though he was availing himself of government accommodation.

Adhikari also alleged that Dwivedi had earned over Rs20 lakh by renting out a bungalow and a flat he owns in the past year.
Sharing his letter to Srivastava on Twitter, Adhikari wrote: “Non-response of Shri H. K. Dwivedi (IAS) to my letter dated Jan 24, 2023, regarding drawing HRA in gross violation of All IndiaServices (House Rent Allowance) Rules; has compelled me to apprise Shri P. K. Srivastava; Hon’ble Central VigilanceCommissioner about the matter.”

On January 24, the Nandigram MLA had written to Dwivedi levelling the same allegations and seeking a response from him. He had alleged that since September 30, 2020, Dwivedi had drawn over Rs 16 lakh as home rent allowance from the government despite enjoying a rent-free bungalow.

Dwivedi’s latest annual immovable property return, Adhikari alleged, shows that he has earned more than Rs20 lakh in the last year as rent from two personal accommodations.

Rent from a five-storeyed bungalow in Rajarhathas fetched him Rs 15,84,000and Dwivedi has earned another Rs 4,80,000 from a flat in New town last year, Adhikari said in his letter to the CVC.

A document, purportedly a copy of Dwivedi’s latest annual immovable property return, was shared with the tweet.

Adhikari had threatened to take appropriate actions against Dwivedi if he failed to reply within seven days.

According to Adhikari’s tweet, Dwivedi did not respond to his email and hence, he had apprised the CVC of the alleged irregularity.

“I’ve also pointed out how he misused his position as an IAS Officer to get preferential allotments of land at highly subsidized rates from 2 separate Depts of WB Govt & consequently profiteered from the same. I guess Chief Secretaries aren’t immune from disciplinary proceedings,” Adhikari tweeted.