Is Arvind Kejriwal's office not aware of its own expenditures on advertisements?

DNA: New Delhi: Saturday, June 27, 2015.

In a response to an RTI query seeking information on the total amount of expenditure incurred during the relaunch of its anti-corruption helpline number, the CMO informed the applicant that the information sought is not available with it. The RTI filed on April 24, had sought information on several other areas relating to government expenditures but has received a similar response.

As the Aam Aadmi Party government tabled its maiden budget, terming it the country's first Swaraj budget, office of the Delhi chief minister seems to suffer from a miscoordination of sorts when it comes to keep a track of its own expenditure.

In a response to an RTI query seeking information on the total amount of expenditure incurred during the relaunch of its anti-corruption helpline number, the CMO informed the applicant that the information sought is not available with it. The RTI filed on April 24, had sought information on several other areas relating to government expenditures but has received a similar response.

"It is disappointing and even dangerous to see a government which had made so many promises to the people of Delhi not keeping records of its own expenditure," said Jatin Goyal (32), the applicant of the RTI. Goyal, a hospitality and infrastructure professional is also the co-fonder of Cybersipahi a social media group comprising of individuals who work on generating data related to government functioning across India.

"Initially the application was sent to the Public Information Officer in the Directorate of Information and Publicity who transferred the same to CMO, General Administration, Vigilance and Administrative Reforms department of the Delhi government. While other departments cannot be held accountable for not possessing the sought information, it was surprising that the CMO also denied us the same because all file go through Mr Kejriwal office," Goyal added.

The RTI accessed by dna shows questions which include - expenditure incurred on the April 5 inauguration ceremony of the anti-corruption helpline number and total costs incurred on the relaunch and its maintenance.

The Delhi government recently came under a sharp attack by the opposition over broadcasting of their latest advertisement with ex AAP member Prashant Bhushan calling it sexist. The opposition had accused AAP of using public funds to create cult figures.

The RTI filed by Goyal also asked questions pertaining to government spending while advertising the helpline number through various mediums which include radio, television and hoardings. In its response while the CMO wrote that the "information sought against points 1 to 5 is not available on record with this office".