LG Najeeb Jung fires latest salvo, says MK Meena ACB boss

NEW DELHI: As the stalemate over the chief of Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of Delhi government continues, a letter from the office of the lieutenant-governor of Delhi, Najeeb Jung, to the chief secretary of the state has rejected the recent Delhi government order in which it was asserted that the director of vigilance is ACB's head of department with powers to issue directions to all in ACB. Citing the rule book, the letter from the LG clearly sees joint commissioner of police MK Meena, appointed by him, as the man in the driver's seat.

Amidst this power tussle, the ACB is paralysed. With the Delhi government holding additional commissioner SS Yadav as chief and Meena too donning the role, no decisions have been taken for the past fortnight and the staff is confused.

"It is not just about registration of cases, it's about planning, laying traps and carrying out investigations with focus. All these measures critical to the anti-graft efforts are affected in the current circumstances," said sources. In fact, no fresh investigations have been taken up in the recent past.

The LG's letter reached chief secretary KK Sharma on Friday. Rejecting the June 30 order of the vigilance department, the letter points out that the ACB is a police station, Meena is the man in-charge and the vigilance department does not have the powers to allocate work to him, sources said. Meena had been asked to look after training and monitoring of ongoing cases in the hight court and Yadav entrusted with the rest of work.

In the state order issued on Monday, it has been stated that director vigilance is the head of department of ACB and is competent to allocate work amongst the officers working in ACB. Citing the rules, the Vigilance order went on to state, "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 under trial cases till the final outcome of the ongoing proceedings in the High Court."

The Vigilance department set out the functional hierarchy too. "SS Yadav, additional commissioner of Police, ACB, shall supervise the work of DCPs, ACPs and inspectors and SHO of police station ACB. He shall also supervise all investigations, inquiries and other functions of ACB. He shall report directly to the Director of vigilance," the order signed by director vigilance Sukesh Jain reads.

However, as on Friday the order had failed to show any effect on the ground with Meena learnt to be playing the boss. If the impasse continues, the state may approach a higher court to seek a way out. The high court is scheduled to hear the matter on the ACB notification and its chief in August.