Chetan Sanghi finally gets Centre post

Senior IAS officer Chetan B. Sanghi, who was once close to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, has been appointed as joint secretary in the Union women and child development ministry. Mr Sanghi’s relations with the AAP government became sour after he claimed that he was under pressure for naming a certain “VIP” in the Delhi District Cricket Association probe.

Mr Sanghi had been debarred from Central deputation after he had failed to join the women and child development ministry in 2014. But his appointment has now been revoked for the same post in the Union government. A 1988 batch officer, Mr Sanghi was termed as a blue eyed boy of the chief minister for almost a year, suddenly emerged as a villain in the Delhi administration set-up. As things became reportedly difficult for him to continue with the city administration, he proceeded on long leave. The city administration had even cancelled his leave. For almost eight months, there was no word from the Centre about his new posting.

Finally, the appointments committee of the Union cabinet approved Mr Sanghi’s appointment as joint secretary in the WCD ministry for a period of five years from the date of taking over the charge of the post or until further orders. His debarment order would be revoked only after he takes up the new assignment.

Before proceeding on long leave, Mr Sanghi held important posts in several Delhi government departments, including urban development, public works department and vigilance. He headed a three-member panel that went into the DDCA affairs and submitted its report to the Delhi government in November.

Based on recommendations of the Sanghi panel, the AAP government had in December set up an inquiry commission to investigate the alleged irregularities in the DDCA. In a letter to the Union home secretary, Mr Sanghi had requested Central deputation and closure of cases initiated against him by the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government to probe alleged irregularities in Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (DSIIDC), which he headed from 2010 to 2012.