For corruption-free city, govt to restore helpline number

NEW DELHI: In his first speech as the Delhi chief minister for the second time, Arvind Kejriwal promised to end corruption and said he would restart the anti-corruption helpline he had launched during his 49-day rule last time.

The announcement comes a day after senior AAP leader and deputy CM Manish Sisodia told a news agency that the AAP government would investigate corruption cases filed against former chief minister Sheila Dikshit and industrialist Mukesh Ambani.

HT was the first to report on Friday that Kejriwal government would restart the anticorruption helpline at the Anti Corruption Branch of the Delhi government. Addressing a gathering at Ramlila Maidan during his swearing-in ceremony, Kejriwal said, “If anyone asks for money, do not say no. Record the whole conversation and send it to us. We are starting the helpline which had put fear in the minds of corrupt individuals during our earlier rule. We will also introduce the Jan Lokpal Bill.”

He claimed Delhi would be the first corruption-free city. “After our 49 days in office, we can say with confidence that we will end corruption and make Delhi a corruption-free city,” he added.

Reports suggest whistleblower Sanjiv Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Service officer from Haryana cadre, is all set to take charge as the ACB chief.

The ACB helpline is most likely to be monitored by retired IPS N Dilip Kumar, who has served as the chief of the Anti Corruption Branch. Sources said that the officers at the ACB have already started work for restoring the helpline number.