Removal of Kejriwal's private secretary will pave way for probe into excise policy scam: BJP

The removal of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's private secretary from his post will now pave the way for an impartial investigation into the alleged excise policy scam, said the BJP on Thursday (April 11).

Terming his appointment as "illegal', BJP leaders said the removal of Kejriwal's private secretary Bibhav Kumar from his post by the Vigilance Directorate was an administrative decision.

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.

In an order on Wednesday, the Delhi government's Vigilance Directorate terminated the service of Kejriwal's private secretary Bibhav Kumar over alleged violations of rules and procedures in his appointment.

No reaction from AAP

No immediate reaction was available from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi over Kumar's termination of services.

The anti-corruption stand and high moral ground claimed by the AAP and its leaders like Kejriwal have fallen flat with Kumar's removal, Delhi BJP secretary Harish Khurana said.

He said it was an administrative decision to remove Kumar since his appointment was not in accordance with the rules. The decision itself is a setback for the AAP, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader claimed.

In its order to remove Kumar from his post, the Vigilance Directorate said "the competent authority has terminated the engagement of Bibhav Kumar, private secretary to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, in terms of the provisions of Rule 5 of the Central Civil Services (Temporary Service) Rules, 1965, with immediate effect".

Show-cause notice

Kumar was issued a show-cause notice in November last year by the directorate, which had observed that his engagement on the post of private secretary to the Delhi chief minister was "illegal", citing a criminal case pending against him in Noida.

In its order, the directorate said the charges against Kumar are "grave in nature, including the charge of assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, for which the trial against Kumar is at the stage of evidence and therefore, Kumar is not clear from the vigilance angle".

Further, it said rules for the engagement of Kumar "were not scrupulously followed, therefore, such engagement is illegal and void ab initio".

The Enforcement Directorate questioned Kumar on Monday, along with AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak, in connection with the money-laundering case linked to the excise policy.

Kejriwal is in judicial custody till April 15 in connection with the case.

(With inputs from agencies)