The AAP Government seems to be in no mood to let Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) chief, Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena function. An order issued by Director of Vigilance Sukesh Kumar Jain on sought to curtail the powers of lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung-backed Meena. The order stated that Meena will look after training work and monitor cases undergoing trials till the Delhi High Court (HC) decides on the validity of his appointment.
The AAP Government’s appointee, Additional Commi-ssioner of Police SS Yadav has been given charge of the ACB’s functioning, right from registering cases to controlling the ACB police station. However, sources in Delhi Police said that it was contempt of court as the HC has ruled that Meena is the ACB’s head and will function as per provisions of law. The face-off between Jung and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had resulted in the Delhi Government’s ACB having two chiefs and two SHOs.
“MK Meena has been posted as Joint Commissioner of Police in ACB. Since, there is no regular post of Joint Commissioner of Police in ACB and as the matter is sub-judice, Meena will look after the work of training and monitoring of cases under trial till the final outcome of the ongoing proceedings in High Court,” Jain said in his order.
“SS Yadav, Additional Commissioner of Police, ACB, shall supervise the work of DCPs, ACPs, Inspectors and SHO of ACB police station. He shall also supervise all investigations, enquiries and other functions of the ACB and its police station. So branch officers shall work under his direct control and supervision. He shall report directly to Director (Vigilance),” said Jain adding that posts of police officers, namely Additional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Inspector, Sub-Inspector, Assistant Sub-Inspector and Constable were created in the Delhi Administration/Government of Delhi, from time to time for ACB.
A senior bureaucrat who has served in the Sheila Dikshit Government said that Director (Vigilance) does not have the power to direct the Joint Commissioner of Police heading the ACB. Director (Vigilance) never interferes in the functioning of the ACB. A wrong precedent is being set and it should be set right, he added.
Jain also cancelled three orders issued by Meena through which he appointed Inspector Brij Mohan as the new SHO replacing Inspector Vinay Malik. However, Delhi Police sources said that SHO Brij Mohan is still SHO of ACB and Vigilance Department has no power to issue such a directive.
“This is contempt of court as the matter is sub-judice. The Arvind Kejriwal Government is sabotaging functioning of the ACB,” said the sources, adding only ACB chief can issue such directions. Responding to a query related to transfer of SHO of ACB, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi also made it clear that Meena is the chief of ACB.
As per Jain’s order, the work allocation of all other officers shall remain unchanged. Jain also said that Yadav shall report directly to him. According to the Kejriwal Government, Jain is the head of ACB and is competent to allocate work to the officers.
The Government’s new move can further intensify the tussle between Meena and Yadav who operate from the same premises.