Vigilance department sacks Delhi CM Kejriwal's PA over pending criminal case!

Pc: dnaindia

Jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal assistant (PA) Bibhav Kumar has been dismissed from his services. In this regard, action has been taken by the Directorate of Vigilance (DOV) in connection with a case pending against him for 'obstruction'.

Special Secretary Vigilance YVVJ Rajasekhar passed the order citing a 2007 case pending against Vibhav Kumar, in which he was accused of obstructing government work.

"The competent authority terminates the appointment of Bibhav Kumar with immediate effect in accordance with the provisions of Rule 5 of the Central Civil Services (Temporary Service) Rules, 1965," the order said.

The order said the charges against Bibhav Kumar are of a serious nature, including the charge of assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty.

"It is observed that the charges against Bibhav Kumar are serious, including the charge of 'assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty' (Section 353 of IPC), for which Bibhav Kumar The case against him is pending. The evidence, and hence Bibhav Kumar is not clear from the vigilance point of view,'' it said.

The order said- Any serious lapse in the verification process may result in the appointment of persons in the personal staff of ministers, MPs, and other government bodies, who are otherwise not eligible for the post. This is fraught with dangers as such individuals may also have access to sensitive information and data.

The action comes two days after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Vibhav Kumar and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Durgesh Pathak in a money laundering probe related to irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 case.

ED investigators began questioning Vibhav soon after he appeared before them on Monday morning, while Pathak's questioning began when he reached the agency office in the afternoon following a separate summons issued against him. Earlier in February, the ED had also interrogated Bibhav and recorded his statement in connection with the case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The move comes days after the federal agency arrested Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal in the case.