Audit Report Reveals Unauthorized Expenditure by Senior Chandigarh IAS Officers During Paris Trip
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 11th April. A special audit report conducted by the Director General of Audit (Central) has uncovered serious irregularities involving three senior IAS officers of the Chandigarh Administration during a trip to Paris in 2015. The report reveals unauthorized expenditures totaling Rs 6.71 lakh incurred during the foreign tour, including changes in hotel accommodations and overstaying for a meeting initially intended for a lower-ranking official.
The three officers implicated in the audit report are Vijay Dev, who served as the Chandigarh adviser at the time; Anurag Agarwal, then home secretary; and Vikram Dev Dutt, then secretary (personnel). According to the audit findings, the trio disregarded protocol by attending a meeting originally meant for the Chief Architect of Chandigarh.
The audit report highlights several discrepancies in the officers’ actions, including the lack of necessary certificates from the Ministry of External Affairs regarding their participation in the event. Moreover, the officers’ visit extended beyond the stipulated duration of five days without approval from the screening committee, and no nominations were obtained from the minister as required by norms.
Furthermore, the officers approved each other’s tour programs and incurred expenses for hotel accommodations, which were subsequently revised to significantly higher amounts. The revised hotel tariffs amounted to Rs 17,97,360, contributing to the unauthorized expenditure of Rs 6,72,284.
The audit report also points out that the expenses for the officers’ participation in the meeting were borne by the UT Administration Chandigarh, as the inviting foundation did not sponsor the visit.
In contrast, Chief Architect Kapil Setia, who attended the same meeting, adhered to proper procedures, with his expenditures approved as per RTI details.
The Chandigarh Administration confirmed receiving the audit report’s objections and observations but did not provide further details. The three IAS officers involved were informed of the audit findings but did not respond to queries.
