Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday expressed his displeasure over the Anti-Corruption Branch’s (ACB) decision to close the investigation in the multi-crore CNG scam when a Government panel was already probing the case.
In a letter to Vigilance Secretary, the Deputy Chief Minister has questioned lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung’s reported move to “sanction” filing of the chargesheet in connection with alleged multi- crore CNG fitness scam and why the Delhi Government has been bypassed.
In his letter, he has also alleged that “there has been direct interference by the l-G in the functioning of the ACB,” and added, “The CBI has raised serious questions about the role of Jung in the CNG fitness scam.” The Deputy Chief Minister has directed Additional Commissioner of Police SS Yadav and ACB chief Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena to submit a detailed report by September 7.
“If the chargesheet was actually shown to the lieutenant Governor why was GNCTD bypassedIJ As per Government of NCT of Delhi (Allocation of Business) Rules 1993 framed by the President of India under section 44 of GNCTD Act vice notification on December 1, 1993. ACB is a wing of Vigilance Department. ACB directly reports to Vigilance Department then why was Vigilance Department bypassed”IJ Sisodia said in a two-page letter.
“The newspaper report also mentions that the lieutenant Governor has sanctioned filing of the chargesheet. Is this trueIJ I am surprised as to which laws gives powers to the lieutenant Governor to sanction the chargesheet. How could a person against who there are direct allegations sanction chargesheetIJ Was the chargesheet shown to the lieutenant GovernorIJ Which officer took chargesheet to the lieutenant GovernorIJ Under which law was this action soughtIJ It is settled position that no one can be a judge in his own case,” the letter said.
Sisodia was reacting to the media reports claiming the ACB is in the process of finalising the chargesheet CNG fitness scam. Sisodia said the Delhi Government had set up an Enquiry Commission on August 11, 2015, to find out the truth about various aspects of the scam and according to letter, term of reference is to examine the circumstances in which the sanction for prosecution was denied.
“I am surprised that within a few days of setting up this Commission of Enquiry, the ACB has decided to close the investigation by filing the chargesheet. The first question is that who within the ACB is speaking to the media and leaking information when the investigation is still going onIJ”
Sisodia said the AAP Government had set up the Commission of Enquiry, under the chairmanship of Justice SN Agarwal, retired judge of the Delhi High Court, “to examine the circumstances in which the sanction for prosecution was denied”.
The Deputy Chief Minister further alleged that the l-G is a potential notice by the Enquiry Commission. He further alleged that the l-G has appointed his own advocate to appear in a PIl pertaining to CNG fitness scam in the High Court.