Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) chief Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena has written to lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung that he does not want police officers from Bihar as there are sufficient and competent officers in Delhi Police. He now wants them to be repatriated. Hitting at AAP Government, the head of ACB on Friday wrote a letter to Jung stating that appointment of five police officials was done in an unconstitutional manner. Meena in the letter stated: “The order of the appointments of five officers from Bihar is in violation of Section 3 of The Police Act, 1888.”
As per official sources, three inspectors and two sub-inspectors of the Bihar Police have joined ACB, which is currently facing manpower crunch while a DSP level officer has refused to join the ACB following the tussle over appointment in the ACB between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung. Kejriwal had requested Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to provide honest officers for the ACB in Delhi.
He further noted that as per the Act, transfers and posting of police officials between two States has to be cleared by the Central Government. “Notwithstanding anything in any of the Acts mentioned or referred to in the last foregoing section, but subject to any orders which the Central Government may make in this behalf, a member of the police force of any State may discharge the functions of a police officer in any part of any other State and shall, while so discharging such functions, be deemed to be a member of the police force of that part and be vested with the powers, functions and privileges and be subject to the liabilities of a police officer belonging to that police force,” the letter states.
Mukesh K Meena, whose appointment as ACB chief was objected by the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said also stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has to issue an order regarding the appointments of the officers from Bihar. “No order from MHA has been issued in this regard. If order has not been issued by MHA, then it is a violation of provisions of the Police Act 1888,” the letter stated. The 1989-batch IPS officer further noted that the five Bihar officers have to take permission from MHA over their appointment in the Anti-Corruption Branch.
He also apprised the lieutenant-Governor that Delhi Police had posted seven inspectors in ACB recently. “It may be noted that Delhi Police has transferred seven inspectors in ACB on June 8, 2015,” the letter stated. Meena said, “We are not against any police force. I am concerned that the appointments were made in violation of the Police Act. It’s my duty to inform the lieutenant-Governor. The officials from Bihar can work with ACB but they have to get an approval from MHA.”
On June 8, the lieutenant-Governor appointed Meena as head of Delhi Government’s Anti-Corruption Branch but immediately after the appointment, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia attacked the l-G’s move saying “it was some kind of conspiracy”. On June 9, Delhi Government issued an order refusing to accept Meena as head of ACB, saying that he cannot hold a non-existent post (Joint Commissioner) in the anti-corruption unit.
Meena hit back at AAP Government saying, “I have already taken the charge of Joint Commissioner of Police/Anti-Corruption Branch, GNCT, Delhi on 8 June in pursuance to the orders of the l-G and I am presently heading this unit.” Delhi Police and ACB have recently come face-to-face after some of the former’s men were arrested by the anti-graft unit for allegedly accepting bribe. The move to induct policemen from Bihar also seems to be aimed at reducing ACB’s reliance on the Delhi Police as till now all its officers were derived from them.