File photo of former AIIMS Chief Vigilance Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi
In what could be the first sticking point between the Centre and Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, the Aam Aadmi Party chief is keen to induct whistleblower Sanjiv Chaturvedi as Delhi's top anti-corruption officer, sources have told NDTV.
Mr Kejriwal, sources say, will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office tomorrow for the induction of the whistleblower, who was earlier the Chief Vigilance Officer of AIIMS.
"Sanjiv Chaturvedi will be a great asset to the Delhi government. We welcome him with open arms," Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told NDTV on Friday.
Sources close to Mr Chaturvedi say he has given his approval to head the anti-corruption wing of AAP.
However, shifting Mr Chaturvedi to the Delhi government won't be easy. The move would require a no-objection certificate from the health ministry, which the anti-corruption activist alleges, has been targeting him for taking on powerful interests. It would then have to be cleared by the Central Vigilance Commission and also the Cabinet Committee on Appointments, which is headed by the Prime Minister.
The whistleblower was removed as from the post of Chief Vigilance Officer of AIIMS hospital in August last year with the health ministry saying he was not eligible for the post and the Chief Vigilance Commission had not cleared his appointment.
AAP had alleged that Mr Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Service officer, had been victimised for exposing corruption in the central government-run hospital.
Mr Chaturvedi had reportedly initiated several investigations during his two years at the premier hospital. These included cases against officials who went on unexplained, illegal foreign trips on tax payers' money and one who allegedly had his pet dog operated upon at the AIIMS cancer centre.