Kejriwal govt cries foul over ACB probe

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Wednesday set up a five-member team to probe alleged irregularities in procurement and sale of onions by the Delhi government, which the latter retaliated by calling it another attempt by the Centre to target the AAP regime.

The decision to set up the probe team taken by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung-appointed ACB chief M K Meena came after an RTI activist and the Delhi BJP petitioned it to look into the alleged scam.

“We welcome the probe,” said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, but added in the same breath, “But the L-G should also cooperate with the probe being conducted by the Commission of Inquiry into the CNG fitness scam.”

Sisodia added that the AAP government was willing to share the documents related to the procurement of onions with the Prime Minister’s Office but PM Narendra Modi should ask the L-G to cooperate in the CNG scam probe as well.

“The ACB probe has been ordered by the prime minister  because the ACB is working under Modi ji. ACB chief Meena says he has received directions from the PMO and the Centre government also claims that the ACB is under them. So, on the direction of the Centre, the ACB is probing the alleged onion scam,” said the minister.

“We are ready for the inquiry. We will submit all files related to the procurement of the onions to the PMO. But we want to ask Modi ji to tell the L-G to give the files related to Rs 100-crore CNG scam to our inquiry commission,” said Sisodia. “Why are they running away from the inquiry commission.”

Sisodia asked the PM to tell the L-G not to hinder the process of investigation. “Sometimes the L-G moves court, sometimes he declares the constitution of the Commission of Inquiry null and void. Even the minister under whose directions the onions were purchased is ready to give a public statement on the alleged scam. But Modi should ask the L-G to cooperate in the CNG probe,” said the minister.

The RTI applicant had accused the AAP government of buying onions at Rs 18 per kg and selling them at around Rs 30 per kg. The AAP government rubbished the allegations launching into an aggressive ad campaign.