Maliwal booked for graft

The Anti-Corrup tion Branch on Tuesday registered an FIR against DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal for alleged irregularities in the recruitment in the women's commission.

The FIR has been lodged under sections 3 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, apart from sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) of IPC.

“The investigating officer found that there was a need for registration of FIR and probe the matter further. A notice is also being served on other senior officials of the government in this regard,“ ACB chief Mukesh Meena said.

When asked if Maliwal's arrest was likely , Meena said the IO would take a call on this after completing the inquiry . “I can't comment on it now,“ he said.

Sources, however, said ACB had written to LG Najeeb Jung saying that necessary action could be taken against Maliwal.

The anti-graft wing of the Delhi government had on Monday questioned Maliwal.It also sought her replies to a list of 27 questions within a week. The action came after a complaint was filed on August 12 by former DCW chief and Congress member Barkha Singh Shukla. In her complaint, Shukla alleged that AAP functionaries were appointing their associates to DCW and gave them financial benefits.

Questioning the timing of the FIR, Maliwal said that ACB knew about the commission's event on Tuesday .“ ACB knew about our event. I told ACB officials that I have answered most of their questions. As for the 27 questions, I told them that I'll reply in a few days as I was busy with the preparation of our annual report. They were fine with it,“ said Maliwal. Addressing the gathering at the release of DCW's annual report, Maliwal said, “There are some elements who want to create differences between the Centre and state government so that we can't work together.“

She also hit out at the former DCW chief for filing a baseless complaint against her.“They are asking me why so many people have been appointed. The previous chairperson solved just one case. We have addressed 11,000 complaints. How will I work without adequate staff,“ Maliwal asked. “If they want, they can put me in jail. I'm not scared of anyone. There are several wo men inmates in the jail. I'll prepare a report on their condition and work for their welfare.“

Speaking at the DCW event, AAP government ministers Satyendar Jain and Kapil Mishra took a dig at the central government in the presence of Union minister Kiren Rijiju.Jain said that police are used by various governments to harass people.

“Police are also used as a weapon, an extension of power. A few years ago, the Supreme Court had spoken of police reforms, but no government is ready for police reforms because they like to use the police to bully people, to harass them. It is evident,“ he added.

Despite such remarks, Rijiju and women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi appreciated Maliwal's work. “I felt that she really wants to work for the welfare of women. She is honest and hard-working... We have to work together to make the city safe and for that we will have to first acknowledge the problem,“ said Rijiju.

Meanwhile, BJP has sought Malwal's removal from the post of DCW chief. Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay , along with party members, met Jung and submitted a memorandum in this regard.

(TOI)