Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (Press Trust of India photo)
A senior police officer appointed by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch or ACB was today informed in a letter from the state government that there is no place for him on that team.
"I am directed to inform you that there is only one post of Additional Commissioner of Police in the ACB of the GNCTD which is presently occupied. As there is no such sanctioned post, you cannot hold charge or hold a non-existent post. I am therefore directed to ask you to revert to the Delhi Police," the letter to Joint Commissioner MK Meena says.
Mr Meena and seven inspectors were appointed by the Lieutenant Governor to the ACB yesterday, to "augment its resources and fight corruption," the Delhi Police said. By the dint of seniority, Mr Meena would head the ACB instead of Additional Commissioner SS Yadav, who was handpicked for the job by Mr Kejriwal.
A furious Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said this morning, "This is an illegal appointment. There is no post of joint commissioner in the ACB. Posts can't be created like this."
He said no one in the government was consulted on the posting. "Neither the Delhi Chief Minister, me or Director (Vigilance)," Mr Sisodia said, alleging that it was a move designed to control investigation into corruption cases.
The latest turf battle between the Lieutenant Governor and Mr Kejriwal began when the latter got four police officers from Bihar on deputation to Delhi's ACB citing an acute staff shortage.
Mr Jung's office said no appointment to the ACB could be made without his consent.
The Centre has backed Mr Jung on this, saying that the ACB comes under his jurisdiction since the Lieutenant Governor controls the police in the capital and the ACB is deemed a police station. Delhi does not have full statehood and the Centre, through the Lieutenant Governor, controls several key functions.