Following the directions of the Union home ministry not to hold disciplinary proceedings against anti-corruption branch chief Mukesh Kumar Meena initiated by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung has refused to proceed against the senior police officer.
Terming the disciplinary proceedings against Mr Meena as “untenable,” the order stated that “police and public order in Delhi” were the subject matter of the Central government. “The ministry of home affairs has therefore advised the Delhi government not to proceed further in the matter. It is requested to take action accordingly,” an order issued by Raj Niwas said.
A source at the lieutenant-governor’s office said that the order against initiation of proceedings by the Aam Aadmi Party government was issued by the Union home ministry. Mr Meena, who was appointed by the lieutenant-governor as the chief of the anti-corruption branch, was threatened by the Delhi government with an inquiry against him for his role in the curtain purchase scam.
One of the allegations against the ACB chief was that he deployed paramilitary forces on the ACB premises purportedly to intimidate his subordinates. There is also an allegation that Mr Meena tried to take away the FIR book from the police station of ACB and did “illegal acts with malafide intention” of screening “corrupt officials” and saving them from legal proceedings by interfering with the process of law.
“The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi proposes to take action against Meena (IPS AGMUT:1989), joint commissioner of police (ACB) under rule of the All-India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969,” the memo issued by the AAP government had said.
Mr Meena is also alleged to have made a “false” statement that the Anti-Corruption Helpline number 1031 launched by GNCTD had been “scrapped” as it was not receiving complaints.
