The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is reviewing the investigation of a local tenant council president after the city housing commissioner received complaints about the handling of the case and its aftermath.

Housing Commissioner Paul T. Graziano asked the agency to "undertake a complete review of the appropriateness of all aspects of the investigation" of Darryl K. Royster handled by Hilton L. Green, the Housing Authority's inspector general.

In the letter, dated Nov. 1, Graziano also noted that he has told Green "to suspend any activity related to this investigation" until HUD completes its review.

Green said he stands by his investigation, noting that city prosecutors reviewed the criminal allegations against Royster and felt confident enough to present the case to the grand jury.

"I welcome, welcome any review," said Green. "We have absolutely nothing to hide."

Royster, president of the tenant council advisory board at Pleasant View Gardens in East Baltimore, was indicted Sept. 26 on a single count of felony theft of more than $10,000.

He was arrested a week later at his home in the largely subsidized townhouse complex. His criminal case remains in the hands of the state's attorney's office.

Royster, 36, is accused of underreporting his income by thousands of dollars, thus allowing him to get a greater rent subsidy.

The criminal case covers October 1999 to September 2002.

In the weeks since the arrest, Harry Karas, president of the Broadway Overlook Resident Council, and others have questioned Green's handling of the investigation and whether he exceeded his authority.

"The bulk of the story is about procedure and protecting the rights of residents," said Karas.

"He is there to investigate the management of HABC [Housing Authority of Baltimore City], not investigate the residents. ... He's just overstepped everybody's bounds and to us that is a very dangerous tactic."

Karas also alleges that Green intimidated him, a charge the inspector general denies.

Green makes no apologies for his work involving Royster.

"I have met personally with the mayor and the mayor says that we will no longer tolerate housing fraud, and we are following through on that," he said, noting that fraud cases against public housing tenants are not uncommon.

According to Graziano's letter, local housing officials hope the review will help "rebuild trust and confidence between HABC and its residents."

The Housing Authority also is seeking HUD's help in clarifying the scope of the inspector general's work, the circumstances under which outside parties can enter tenant council offices and how a tenant leader under investigation or indictment is to be treated.

Melvin Edwards, spokesman for the housing authority, said the HUD review was "nothing out of the ordinary."

"It's just to provide oversight for them and protection for all parties involved and to maintain a sense of integrity on all levels," he said.

"It's very routine stuff. HUD is just an impartial third party."