ACB questions Kejriwal''s pvt secy in tanker scam

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 17

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) today began questioning Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s private secretary in connection with Rs 400-crore tanker scam — the issue that came to focus once again in the national Capital after sacked minister Kapil Mishra accused Kejriwal of “influencing” the investigation in the case.

Following complaints from Mishra last week, the anti-graft body summoned Bibhav Kumar who joined the probe today at its office.

“Kumar was asked to come with some files which were being examined. Tomorrow Kapil Mishra is to be questioned,” said an official.

Last week, the ACB had recorded suspended Aam Aadmi Party member Kapil Mishra’s detailed statement.

Mishra had alleged that Kejriwal had “deliberately delayed” the probe into the tanker scam that dates back to Sheila Dikshit's tenure as chief minister and he, along with his two aides, influenced the probe to shield her.

Going by his allegation, Kejriwal was asked by his aides to hold back the matter by delaying the sending of some reports to the then Lieutenant Governor, Najeeb Jung, in connection with the alleged scam.

Last year in August, Dikshit was examined by the ACB officials over her alleged involvement in the tanker case and handed over a set of 18 written questions.

Interestingly, Mishra until recent past before he rebelled against the AAP chief had been accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of protecting Dikshit in the case.

The AAP government had in June 2015 constituted a fact-finding committee to go into alleged irregularities in procuring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the Delhi Jal Board.

The government in June 2016 sent a report of the fact-finding committee to the then Lieutenant Governor, Najeeb Jung, following which an FIR was registered in the case.