<p>The AAP-led Delhi government has faced embarrassment just ahead of the bypoll and municipal elections, with the Lieutenant Governor ordering the shutting down of a ‘spy unit’ that was set up by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.<br /><br />LG Anil Baijal’s action comes against the backdrop of a CBI probe into the setting up of the ‘feedback’ unit with secret funds, which many labelled as a spy unit, against norms and the misuse of public money.<br /><br />According to the 2016-17 Budget, the state government had set aside Rs 1 crore for the unit. It was tasked with “gathering relevant information and actionable feedback” about officials and departments under the Delhi government, besides “laying traps to catch bribe-taking bureaucrats”. <br /><br />However, there were allegations that the unit was also asked to spy on journalists and others as well.<br /><br />Around 20 retired intelligence officials and others were recruited to the unit. Of these, around half-a-dozen had quit last month even before Baijal scrapped the unit. Initially, the plan was to have a 49-member team.<br /><br />A preliminary inquiry by the CBI revealed that recruitment norms were not followed in the appointments.<br /><br />Though the unit was set up under the vigilance department, it functioned directly under the control of the chief minister’s office, sources said. <br /><br />Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, however, defended the setting up of the unit, saying every state should have such a mechanism. <br /><br />“The government should communicate with people and get a feedback. I don’t think there is anything wrong in it,” he said.</p>
<p>The AAP-led Delhi government has faced embarrassment just ahead of the bypoll and municipal elections, with the Lieutenant Governor ordering the shutting down of a ‘spy unit’ that was set up by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.<br /><br />LG Anil Baijal’s action comes against the backdrop of a CBI probe into the setting up of the ‘feedback’ unit with secret funds, which many labelled as a spy unit, against norms and the misuse of public money.<br /><br />According to the 2016-17 Budget, the state government had set aside Rs 1 crore for the unit. It was tasked with “gathering relevant information and actionable feedback” about officials and departments under the Delhi government, besides “laying traps to catch bribe-taking bureaucrats”. <br /><br />However, there were allegations that the unit was also asked to spy on journalists and others as well.<br /><br />Around 20 retired intelligence officials and others were recruited to the unit. Of these, around half-a-dozen had quit last month even before Baijal scrapped the unit. Initially, the plan was to have a 49-member team.<br /><br />A preliminary inquiry by the CBI revealed that recruitment norms were not followed in the appointments.<br /><br />Though the unit was set up under the vigilance department, it functioned directly under the control of the chief minister’s office, sources said. <br /><br />Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, however, defended the setting up of the unit, saying every state should have such a mechanism. <br /><br />“The government should communicate with people and get a feedback. I don’t think there is anything wrong in it,” he said.</p>