New ACB chief objects to Bihar cops' appointment, writes to LG

Anti-Corruption Branch chief Mukesh Kumar Meena has raised objections on the appointment of five Bihar police officers in the agency. He raised the issue in a letter to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.

The 1989-batch IPS officer,  recently appointed as ACB chief by the LG, said the appointments by Delhi government were in violation of section 3 of the Police Act 1888. Meena has also sought LG’s intervention in informing the Union Home Ministry and taking action into the appointments.

As per the Police Act 1888, for transfer and posting of police officers between two states, police need to take approval from central government. However, during the appointment of the Bihar police officers in ACB, neither Delhi government nor Bihar government approached the Centre for approval, Meena mentioned in his letter. 

The ACB chief also said that ACB does not have any requirement of the Bihar police officers and they should be sent back, as seven inspectors from Delhi Police have already joined ACB.

Bihar Police had recently relieved five of its officers – inspectors and sub-inspectors – to join the ACB. They joined, but have not been assigned specific responsibilities. It was done after a conversation that Kejriwal had with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in New Delhi. Kejriwal had requested Nitish Kumar citing staff crunch in ACB.

ACB’s request for nearly 600 officers, including around 24 inspectors, is pending with Delhi Police, which has been citing its own staff crunch for delay in providing the demanded manpower.

The situation has also changed after Jung appointed Meena as the ACB chief on June 8. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia says it is a political conspiracy. On June 9, Delhi government’s vigilance director Sukesh Kumar Jain had also issued an order asking Meena to revert to Delhi Police as the post of ACB head was already occupied by S S Yadav.

Meena, however, has refused to accept the order and warned Jain of legal action if he interferes in the working of ACB in future. The Delhi government issued another order and cancelled Meena’s appointment in ACB. However, Meena is still continuing his tenure as head of ACB.