AAP's ACB nominee says LG appointee 'trying to threaten' him

As a turf war continues between their political superiors in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party-nominated Anti Corruption Bureau chief SS Yadav has accused LG-appointee MK Meena of threatening and pressuring him and trying to hamper the functioning of the anti-graft body.

According to sources, Yadav has sent three complaints about Meena's alleged high-handed behaviour to Delhi's government's department of vigilance, which comes under Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Sisodia has forwarded the complaints to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi, they added. "Meena is trying to threaten and pressurise me into providing FIRs filed with the anti-corruption bureau pertaining to the Delhi police officials and interfering in the working of the ACB.”

"He wanted to take the FIR book out of ACB headquarters, which is not allowed in the first place. And, secondly, he is not even authorised to do it. ACB reports to the directorate of vigilance and not to him," Yadav told PTI. He also rubbished media reports that he had threatened to commit suicide.

"That is all rubbish; why would I want to commit suicide. I am not scared of him (Meena)," he said.

Sources said Meena on Wednesday went to Yadav's office and asked for the FIR book following which a heated argument broke out between the two as Yadav refused to provide what was sought. It is, meanwhile, learnt that Meena has sent a notice to Yadav citing legal implications if the latter does not share the FIRs.

The face-off between Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has resulted in Delhi government's ACB now having two chiefs. It all began on June 8, when Joint Commissioner Meena, a 1989-batch Indian Police Service officer, took charge of the ACB after he was appointed by Jung, superseding Additional Commissioner SS Yadav. Yadav had been hand-picked by Delhi government for the post.

The AAP government reacted by terming the appointment illegal as it claimed that that there was no post of joint commissioner in ACB.

Image: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung are at loggerheads