Anti-graft body seeks more time to probe charges against Maliwal

The Anti-Corruption Branch on Friday sought time from a Delhi court to complete its investigation in a case involving Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal, regarding alleged irregularities in the recruitment process in the panel.

Special Judge Hemani Malhotra has granted time to the probe agency and fixed the matter for further hearing on August 1.

Maliwal has been earlier granted bail by the court in the matter. She was summoned as an accused by the court on January 18 after it took cognisance of the ACB’s chargesheet for the alleged offence of criminal misconduct by public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act. It entails a maximum punishment of seven years in jail.

The ACB filed the first charge sheet on December 21, 2016 against Maliwal in connection with the alleged irregularities in the appointment of Aam Aadmi Party workers in DCW.

It claimed that it was found during the probe that Maliwal, in connivance with others, had allegedly abused her official position and deliberately ignored the procedures to employ associates or AAP workers beyond the authorised sanctioned strength of 26 posts, causing unauthorised benefits to them at the cost of public exchequer. It was also found that the appointments were made without inviting any application by way of publication or constituting a selection board.

The ACB had taken up the probe on a complaint by former DCW chief Barkha Shukla Singh, who had alleged that several Aam Aadmi Party supporters were given plum posts in the women’s panel.