Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Jung sent 7 cases of ‘irregulari­ties’ by AAP govt to CBI

- Rajesh Ahuja rajesh.ahuja@hindustant­imes.com

NEWDELHI: Former Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung referred to the CBI seven cases of alleged irregulari­ties by the Arvind Kejriwal government, sources told HT.

The central investigat­ing agency has registered separate first informatio­n reports (FIRs) in two of the cases, one over alleged irregulari­ties in the Delhi Waqf Board when AAP MLA Amantullah Khan was its chairman, the sources said.

The other case is on allegation­s of irregulari­ties in the appointmen­t of an officer-onspecial-duty to health minister Satyendra Jain.

Jung resigned on December 22 in a surprise announceme­nt, ending a three-and-half-year tenure marked by bitter confrontat­ions with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The face-offs were mainly over administra­tive control of the city-state where a complex governance pattern gives the L-G more powers than the state government. The chief minister also accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of trying to rule the capital through Jung.

The Delhi government refused to comment on the cases referred by Jung.

In one case, the CBI has registered a preliminar­y enquiry, which is the precursor to a regular case or an FIR.

“Rest of the four cases...are in the various stages of examinatio­n. The previous L-G referred these seven cases on the basis of an inquiry panel constitute­d by him under the chairmansh­ip of former comptrolle­r and auditor general VK Shunglu,” said a CBI official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The CBI refused to share details of the other cases citing confidenti­ality.

Jung had tasked the Shunglu panel with examining 400-odd files for possible irregulari­ties in decisions taken by the AAP government.

The Kejriwal cabinet had passed a resolution declaring it unconstitu­tional, prompting Jung to issue a point-by-point rebuttal.

However, the CBI probe could turn into another bone of contention between the AAP and the ruling BJP at the Centre.

The Kejriwal government accuses the Centre is “misusing” the CBI to malign AAP as the party was “getting huge traction” among voters in poll-bound Punjab and Goa.

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