LG pushing ACB to arrest me: Mishra

Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra on Monday hinted at his “possible” arrest by the Anti-Corruption Branch, allegedly at the behest of Prime Minister’s Office, over the water tanker scam which started during the tenure of the previous Congress government.

The minister is likely to be questioned on July 4 by the ACB, which is controlled by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, according to sources.

Mishra, who earlier held the water portfolio in the city government, suggested the possibility of his political victimisation for attempting to “expose” the wrongdoings of former chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

He also alleged that the ACB chief Mukesh Meena may arrest him to follow instructions from the PMO and Lieutenant Governor Jung.

“Last evening Direct message from PMO to L-G & from L-G to Meena – get Kapil Mishra arrsted at earliest. Crime - exposing Shiela Dixit,” Mishra tweeted on Monday.

Earlier, Mishra said there was collusion between Dikshit and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders who wanted to save the Congress leader in the tanker scam. 

On June 24, Mishra tweeted: “Clear instructions to all BJP leaders - Don't say a word against Shiela Dixit. Shiela Dixit knows too much about someone in BJP.”

Mishra last week was served a notice by the ACB to present himself for questioning.

“I have received a Love Letter. I love u too Meena Ji," tweeted Mishra, adding that exposing Dikshit was a passion for him while arresting him was Meena’s compulsion.

Apart from the Rs 400 crore alleged racket in the award of water tankers’ contract by the Congress government, the ACB is also pursuing a BJP complaint that Kejriwal tried to delay action on the scam.

BJP leader Vijender Gupta has accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of “suppressing" his own government's inquiry report on the scam for 11 months.

Dikshit has claimed innocence and said the decisions on tankers were taken with the consensus of BJP legislators.

Mishra alleged that there were sympathisers in the BJP who were shielding Dikshit in three corruption cases filed against her by the AAP government during its previous 49-day stint.

Last year, Mishra wrote to Arvind Kejriwal seeking the filing of an FIR against Dikshit over the alleged water tanker hiring scam. His portfolio was changed three days after he wrote the letter.

Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party chief Dilip Pandey earlier said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was protecting Dikshit. “The CBI and the ACB report to Modi. Why isn’t he acting against Dikshit,” he said.