Bibhav Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal's Personal Secretary, Sacked Over 'Illegal Appointment'

Trouble does not seem to end for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government as Delhi vigilance department has now sacked Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s personal secretary Bibhav Kumar on grounds of “illegal appointment”.

A case 2007 case against Bibhav for ‘assault and use of criminal force to obstruct a public servant from doing his duty’ has been cited for termination of his services.

The vigilance department has said that employment of a private person is temporary, and a background check about his pending criminal check was not done.

In February, Bibhav was also summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.

A PTI report had then stated that the questioning of Kejriwal’s personal secretary was related to the ED’s charges that at least 36 accused, including Delhi former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Kumar, have “destroyed or used” 170 phones to conceal evidence of “kickbacks” worth thousands of crores of rupees in the excise policy scam case.

Reacting to the development, AAP leader Jasmine Shah said, “First the Delhi CM is arrested in the fake Delhi liquor case. Now, the LG has started sacking his entire staff, including his private secretary.”

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra said, “Bibhav’s removal was necessary. Firstly his appointment was illegal, secondly he was under investigation in corruption cases, and thirdly and most importantly, Kejriwal is in jail. At the behest of liquor policy case accused, his team could destroy evidence and influence witnesses. The step of his removal will help in ensuring fair investigation.”

Meanwhile, sources in the Aam Aadmi Party’s legal team said that they may challenge the termination order before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

The legal team is brainstorming over the grounds on which the said order can be challenged, sources said.

One of the key aspects that Bibhav is likely to raise before the CAT is the timing of the order, and to term the order of CAT as unconstitutional, a source added.

Besides sacking of Bibhav, another trouble is hovering over AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan as ED is reportedly preparing to arrest him. This case, however, is not connected to the alleged liquor policy scam. But is related to a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in appointments in the Delhi Waqf Board.

The central probe agency had on Wednesday moved a Delhi court seeking a non-bailable arrest warrant against Khan. The court has listed the matter for April 18 as the probe agency sought some time to file documents supporting its application.

The ED had filed a charge sheet against four people in the case, including three alleged associates of the Okhla MLA.

Earlier this week, a Delhi court had issued a summons to Khan to appear before it on April 20 after the probe agency moved an application seeking initiation of trial against the legislator for not complying with the summons by them.

According to ED, Khan had not adhered to the summons issued to him for questioning on January 23, January 31, February 9, February 19, February 26, and March 4.

(with inputs from Arunima in New Delhi)