‘ACB chief Meena has become more aggressive’

Lieutenant Governor appointed ACB chief M K Meena has become “more aggressive” as no order has been passed against him, the Delhi government alleged in the High Court on Thursday, charging the official with not working in accordance with the law.

Making the submission before Justice V P Vaish, the counsel for Delhi government said: “Since no order has been passed in this petition, the man has become more aggressive and is also not allowing others to work.”

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for the AAP government, also alleged that Meena was “not working in accordance with law”.

Countering the contention, Meena’s counsel said the Delhi government was trying to “abuse the process of law” and the LG-appointed ACB chief was acting in accordance with the law.

Alleging that the Arvind Kejriwal-government has a grudge against Meena and wants him out, he also claimed that there has been no wilful disobedience on the part of the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) chief.

Appearing for Meena, Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh also sought time to respond to a show-cause notice issued to the ACB chief seeking explanation on why the contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him on AAP government’s claim that he had violated the court’s order by removing an SHO of the anti-graft body.

Though the AAP government opposed Meena’s plea for time saying it was a “delaying tactic”, the court granted two weeks to the ACB chief to file his response.

The AAP government had approached the court seeking the initiation of contempt proceedings against Meena, who had shunted out inspector Vinay Malik, appointed by it as SHO ACB, and posted inspector Brij Mohan in his place.

On this, the court had also issued show-cause notice to inspector Brij Mohan for allegedly not lodging FIR on complaints received by the anti-graft body between June 8 and 17.

During the brief hearing, the court was told that the issue of interpretation of Article 239AA of the Constitution regarding the powers of the LG on governance of Delhi, was currently being heard by the division Bench. Hence, this matter should also be transferred to that Bench.

The court said the issue could be considered after Meena files his reply to this petition. A total of seven cases arising out of the spat between the LG and the Delhi government, are being heard together by the Bench headed by the Chief Justice.

The Delhi government in its contempt plea has sought directions to ACB “to receive the complaint from the SDM, register an FIR and carry out investigation in accordance with law.”