New Delhi: While Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal remain jailed, his personal assistant, Bibhav Kumar, has been terminated from services at the decision of the Directorate of Vigilance Department, citing a case against Kumar, in which he was accused of obstructing government work.
Bibhav Kumar was sacked as a private secretary to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo “effective immediately”. Following a detailed examination of Kumar’s legal entanglements and a breach in following due procedures for his appointment, the decision was made to terminate his services, said the department in a statement.
In the case filed in 2007 by Mahesh Pal, posted at the Development Authority in Noida, it was alleged that Bibhav Kumar along with three others obstructed the complainant, a public servant, “from discharging his duty and abusing/threatening him”. The FIR further stated that without arresting Bibhav Kumar and another accused in the case, Rajeev Kumar, a charge sheet was submitted before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court where it’s pending currently.
The vigilance department said that a background check regarding Bibhav Kumar’s pending criminal case before his appointment was not done.
“Despite being appointed conditionally based on the pending outcome of a criminal case against him (FIR 102/07 under IPC sections 353, 504, and 506), concerns were raised following the directives from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) regarding appointments without prior verification of character and antecedents,” the vigilance department said.
The decision to remove Bibhav Kumar from his position came after the Enforcement Directorate questioned him on April 8 in the Delhi liquor policy case. ED officials recorded his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
AAP leader Jasmine Shah attacked the BJP over Bibhav Kumar’s sacking, saying the saffron party’s “sole aim” is to end the ruling party of the national capital. She also took a dig at Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.
“First the Delhi CM is arrested in the fake Delhi liquor case. Now, the LG has started sacking his entire staff including his Pvt Secretary. There is no doubt left that BJP’s sole aim is to finish AAP Democracy is being dismantled in the national capital,” she tweeted.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP vice president Kapil Mishra said that Bibhav Kumar’s removal was a “necessary step”, pointing out three reasons behind the same.
“Firstly, his (Bibhav Kumar) appointment was illegal, secondly, he was under investigation in corruption cases, and thirdly and most importantly, he could get involved in destroying evidence and witnesses at the behest of the jailed Kejriwal. His removal will help in ensuring a fair investigation,” Mishra told India Today.
