2 arrests in 2 years: What’s ailing Delhi’s ACB?

New Delhi:

The tussle for control of Delhi’s anti-corruption branch between the elected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the office of the lieutenant governor, a central government appointee, seems to have dented the track record of the bureau and raised questions over its functioning.

In the past two years, ACB has arrested just two people, records show. The decline has been steep since 2015 – the year the AAP came to power, promising to fight corruption in public life, and got embroiled in the turf war with the LG’S office.

In 2015, ACB arrested 45 people on corruption charges. The year ago, ACB had arrested seven persons. The number fell to three in 2016, zero in 2017 and two in 2018. Interestingly, out of the 45 arrests in 2015, at least 32 were between April and June when chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had appointed an officer of his choice, additional commissioner SS Yadav, to head the bureau. Within three months of Yadav’s appoint- ment on April 16, he was replaced by the Centre.

Incidentally, the first person ACB arrested in 2017-2018 is Vinay Bansal, the nephew of Kejriwal. The AAP government has alleged that the arrest was part of an effort by the Centre to harass the chief minister. Bansal was held in connection with an alleged Public Works Department fraud that involved submitting fake bills to claim money for construction work.

IN 2015, ACB ARRESTED 45 PEOPLE. THE YEAR AGO, IT WAS SEVEN. THE NUMBER FELL TO THREE IN 2016, ZERO IN 2017 AND TWO IN 2018