New Delhi, Oct 8 (NationPress) In a significant turn of events within administrative circles, Durga Shakti Nagpal, an IAS officer from the 2010 batch currently serving as the District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, is facing a substantial fine of Rs 1.63 crore imposed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) due to allegations of overstaying in a government bungalow in Delhi.

This fine was determined using the government’s telescopic formula for unauthorized occupancy. For Type VI-A accommodation, the charges commence at Rs 92,000 monthly and escalate progressively to Rs 4.6 lakh per month.

The controversy revolves around Bungalow B-17, a Type VI-A accommodation located on IARI’s Pusa campus, which Nagpal has occupied since April 2015.

Initially assigned to her during her role as Officer on Special Duty to then Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, the bungalow was intended to be vacated after her deputation concluded in May 2019.

However, records indicate she continued to live there until February 2025, covering her postings in the Commerce Ministry and her return to the Uttar Pradesh cadre News18.

The demand notice from IARI, issued under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, calculates damages based on a telescopic formula beginning at Rs 92,000 monthly and rising to Rs 4.6 lakh over time.

The overall penalty for the duration from May 2022 to February 2025 totals Rs 1,63,57,550.

Nagpal, who graduated from Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women with a B.Tech in Computer Science, has defended her prolonged stay.

She cites her parents’ severe health issues—her father undergoing bypass surgery and her mother requiring a knee replacement—and asserts she obtained official approval and paid the rent. She mentioned to some media outlets that she had indeed paid the rent.

Due to some missing documentation, additional penal charges were imposed, which she claims are merely notional, and she has requested a waiver.

Despite repeated reminders from IARI since 2020, eviction proceedings began in July 2022, culminating in police-assisted recovery of possession in early 2025.

The Ministry is currently evaluating her waiver request, which is supported by a letter from the Uttar Pradesh government sent in June 2025. Nagpal, recognized for her anti-corruption initiatives and administrative skills, continues leading development projects in Lakhimpur Kheri.

The potential impact of this financial controversy on her career remains uncertain, yet it has undoubtedly reignited discussions surrounding bureaucratic accountability and housing regulations.