In another setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, the directorate of vigilance on Thursday terminated the services of the Bibhav Kumar, personal secretary of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.The decision to sack Bibhav Kumar comes in light of a 2007 case against him for ‘assault and use of criminal force to obstruct a public servant from doing his duty.’
The order was issued by YVVJ Rajshekhar, the special secretary vigilance.The vigilance department has said that the employment of a private person is temporary, and a background check regarding his pending criminal case was not conducted. The Vigilnce Department is not considering issuing order to vacate his official bungalow.
Reacting to the development, AAP leader Jasmine Shah said, “First, the Delhi CM is arrested in the fake Delhi liquor case. Now, the LG has begun dismissing his entire staff, including his private secretary.”
“The Competent Authority hereby terminates the engagement of Bibhav Kumar, in terms of the provisions of Rule 5 of the Central Civil Services (Temporary Service) Rules, 1965, with immediate effect,” read the order. Per the order, a government servant named Mahesh Pal had accused Bibhav Kumar of obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty and abusing the complainant. The order claimed a case was registered against Kumar whose next hearing will take place next month.
“The Station House Officer, Police Station, Sector-20 Noida, vide Letter dated 29.04.23 (Page 76/C) has informed that the FIR No. 102/2007 was filed on 25.01.2007 by the complainant Sh. Mahesh Pal who was posted at Development Authority, Sector 6, Noida. The said FIR was registered under Sections 353/504/506 of IPC against Sh. Rajeev Kwnar S’o Sh. Ram Kewal and Sh. Bibhay Kumar _S/o_ Sh. Maheshwar Roy for obstructing the complainant, a public servant, from discharging his duty and abusing/ threatening the complainant,” the order said.
The FIR further stated that without arresting Bibhav Kumar and another accused in the case, namely Rajeev Kumar, a charge sheet was submitted before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court where it’s pending currently.
The vigilance department said that a background check regarding Bibhav Kumar’s pending criminal case before his appointment was not done.
The order came days after the ED questioned Kumar in the Delhi excise policy case. His services were terminated due to a violation of Central Civil Service Rules regarding temporary appointments. The termination was immediate, as per the order. The order said that the character and antecedent verification of the personal staff of ministers should be verified before engaging non-government officials.
It said Bibhav Kumar’s trial is at the stage of evidence and he is not clear from the angle of vigilance.
BJP leaders on Thursday said the removal of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s private secretary from his post by the Vigilance Directorate was an administrative decision that will pave the way for a probe into the alleged excise policy scam. It was necessary to remove Kumar from the post as his appointment was “illegal” and he was under the scanner of agencies in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy of the city government, Delhi BJP vice-president Kapil Mishra said, adding that his removal will now pave the way for an impartial investigation in the matter. Mishra said that firstly, his appointment was illegal; secondly, he was under investigation in corruption cases; and thirdly, and most importantly, Kejriwal is in jail. His team could potentially destroy evidence and influence witnesses at the behest of the accused in the liquor policy case. Removing him will help ensure a fair investigation.”
Delhi BJP secretary Harish Khurana said that the anti-corruption stand and high moral ground claimed by the AAP and its leaders like Kejriwal have fallen flat with Kumar’s removal.
