press trust of india
New Delhi, August 18: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) Thursday carried out searches at Delhi Commission for Women office here in connection with complaints by a former chief secretary and an ex-chief of the panel, triggering an angry reaction from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Later, addressing a press conference, DCW chief Swati Maliwal said the “raid” by ACB, headed by LG-appointed M K Meena, may be an attempt at coercion but such actions cannot “silence” her and that she was ready for the “ultimate sacrifice”.
ACB officials claimed that they had intimated the DCW that they will be coming to collect certain documents pertaining to two complaints, one alleging nepotism and favouritism by Maliwal in appointing employees to the body and the other about “misuse” of her official position.
The complaints were recently made by former chief of DCW Barkha Shukla Singh and former Delhi Chief Secretary Omesh Sehgal, respectively. Adopting a Gandhian way of protest, the staff of the panel tied rakhis to the ACB officials during the search.
“I was not questioned by the ACB officials but other members of the Commission were. During her tenure, Barkha Singh handled just one case in nine years. We have been working on pending cases, that’s why we are being questioned,” Maliwal said.
In her complaint, Barkha had claimed that several AAP supporters were given plum posts in the women’s panel, an allegation strongly denied by Maliwal, who attributed the increased staff strength to the “increase” in the amount of work being handled by DCW since she took over in July last year.
“Barkha Singh in DCW tenure of nine year did only 1 case. I’ve done over 400 cases, 50 recommendation in 50 visits. Attack on me for doing work…Those who fight against the system have to make sacrifices. Have to be ready for the ultimate sacrifice. I am ready (sic),” Maliwal tweeted. In another complaint, Sehgal had alleged that Maliwal was misusing her official position by issuing a showcause notice to a club of which he is a member.
A woman had claimed that Sehgal had harassed her by bumping into her constantly in the club’s swimming pool. The woman had claimed that she and her husband were suspended from the club after they filed an FIR against Sehgal. DCW had sought a reply from the club on the suspension of the couple’s membership and the club’s failure to forward the woman’s complaint to the local complaints committee.
“When we approach the ACB against irregularities in MCD, it hardly takes any note of them. You can call the ACB a BJP- controlled agency. It springs up like James Bond when it comes to complaints against AAP and Delhi government,” AAP Delhi convenor Dilip Pandey said.
