Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has decided to strengthen the anti-corruption branch (ACB) with spying equipment and technical experts to keep an eye on Delhi police personnel and other employees of the Delhi Government. He is doing this to set up a parallel policing structure at par with the Delhi Police which comes under the Home Ministry, according to sources. There will be parallel investigation team in the ACB.
However, Delhi Government spokesperson Nagendra Sharma tweeted, “There is no proposal by the Delhi Government to procure anything called as a snooping equipment and no such Cabinet note has been circulated.” Despite the denial, there is a definite evidence to prove that the Government is ready to go ahead with its plan, according to sources, who pointed towards a Cabinet note prepared by the Kejriwal Government that proposes to spend Rs35.95 crore, including Rs3.2 crore on the high-end equipment and the rest on vehicles, mobile phones, computers and salaries for additional staff.
It has also proposed for creation of 259 posts, including one additional CP, two DCPs, three ACPs and other technical experts. “It is extremely important for the ACB to be equipped with modern technology for research, analysis, surveillance and monitoring purpose to check corruption. Moreover, the branch may be equipped with the latest software tool to analyse CDRs records quickly and efficiently,” the proposal said. It has also proposed to increase special secret funds from Rs1.5 lakh to Rs20 lakh. The annual budget of the ACB is Rs10.88 crore, of these Rs9 crore is slated for salary purposes.
According to the note, there is a requirement of at least 375 officials in the ACB. Earlier, the Delhi Cabinet in its decision dated April 1 had approved 88 posts including two DCPs and three ACPs. “Investigation, liaison and coordination, field and desk work, analysis of evidence and report are lengthy and at times a long process from scene of offence to court of law. In between comes the role of prosecution, technical examination, report writing. As a result there is a need for adequate support staff not only for the ACB but also for the malkhana and coordination with the courts, directorate of prosecution and other agencies and departments,” the proposal said.
The latest controversy comes in the midst of a tussle between the Home Ministry and the Kejriwal Government over the ACB. Control over the ACB is central to Kejriwal’s politics, given his emphasis on fighting corruption, claimed sources. In the last two months, the ACB has already registered 25 graft cases. But the plan to empower the ACB — which is staffed by police personnel — has clearly triggered fears about its potential abuse.
The note also proposes incentives to employees of the ACB that include one-month compensatory salary to all non-gazette staff, reward up to inspector level officials and special allowance and incentives at the rate of 35 per cent of the salary to the officers and staff of vigilance department. The note further proposes to increase secret service fund from the existing Rs1.5 lakh to Rs20 lakh. “Proactive methods involve very systematic and time consuming efforts and investment of resources and secret service funds needs to be used liberally and judiciously for the success of our (Government) plans,” it said. The note also proposes to buy a large quantity of vehicles that including six Innova, 12 cars, 20 Gypsy, 10 SUV (eight to 10 seater), 20 Pulser motorcycles. At present, there are only 11 vehicles with the ACB.