Top security body working out of shopping mall
22 Jan 2013 7:22 AM IST
India’s premier anti-terrorism outfit National Investigating Agency (NIA) is reportedly paying a whooping Rs 85-90 lakh per month as rent for their office in a district centre in Jasola area in south district despite being allotted government space at the NDMC Centre in the heart of the city which remains vacant.
Sources in NIA said that rent was increased recently after the agency sought extra space. ‘Earlier, the agency had rented the fourth and fifth floors for Rs 55 lakh per month. Recently, the officials complained of lack of space and after getting permission from the home ministry, a part of another floor has been occupied with the rent going up to at least Rs 85 lakh,’ sources added.
This rent is being paid despite having office space in NDMC building in CP. ‘I don’t understand why senior officials are not thinking about shifting to NDMC building. NIA even wrote to the home ministry that its sensitive investigation work needs a proper office and that they don’t feel safe in the present office located inside in a mall,’ sources added.
The rent is also quite high going by the space given. There is a big hall in each floor with cabins installed inside. A better place can be hired with that amount of rent, sources revealed.
‘A separate building can be constructed in a year if one spends Rs 90 lakh,’ an NIA official said on condition of anonymity.
When contacted, senior NIA officials refused to comment on the issue. The sleuths also reportedly face difficulty while working inside a shopping mall, which is a virtual glass house sprawling over 2.62 lakh square feet of retail area on the ground floor with office blocks in the upper ones. Besides, elevators stop working by 8 pm daily, making it difficult for NIA officers to climb the stairs to the fourth floor office at night.
In fact, an office order of the agency (185/10) dated 12 April 2010 clearly states they need a government owned property for the agency’s office for a better functioning and facilities.
The agency, which came into being after 26/11 Mumbai carnage, is probing 30 crucial terror cases, including the recent Delhi High Court blasts, the David Coleman Headley episode, Malegaon blasts in 2006 and 2008, Samjhauta Express blast, Mecca Masjid and Ajmer blasts.
Sources in NIA said that rent was increased recently after the agency sought extra space. ‘Earlier, the agency had rented the fourth and fifth floors for Rs 55 lakh per month. Recently, the officials complained of lack of space and after getting permission from the home ministry, a part of another floor has been occupied with the rent going up to at least Rs 85 lakh,’ sources added.
This rent is being paid despite having office space in NDMC building in CP. ‘I don’t understand why senior officials are not thinking about shifting to NDMC building. NIA even wrote to the home ministry that its sensitive investigation work needs a proper office and that they don’t feel safe in the present office located inside in a mall,’ sources added.
The rent is also quite high going by the space given. There is a big hall in each floor with cabins installed inside. A better place can be hired with that amount of rent, sources revealed.
‘A separate building can be constructed in a year if one spends Rs 90 lakh,’ an NIA official said on condition of anonymity.
When contacted, senior NIA officials refused to comment on the issue. The sleuths also reportedly face difficulty while working inside a shopping mall, which is a virtual glass house sprawling over 2.62 lakh square feet of retail area on the ground floor with office blocks in the upper ones. Besides, elevators stop working by 8 pm daily, making it difficult for NIA officers to climb the stairs to the fourth floor office at night.
In fact, an office order of the agency (185/10) dated 12 April 2010 clearly states they need a government owned property for the agency’s office for a better functioning and facilities.
The agency, which came into being after 26/11 Mumbai carnage, is probing 30 crucial terror cases, including the recent Delhi High Court blasts, the David Coleman Headley episode, Malegaon blasts in 2006 and 2008, Samjhauta Express blast, Mecca Masjid and Ajmer blasts.
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