Vigilance department sacks Bibhav Kumar as Delhi CM's private secretary
What's the story
Bibhav Kumar, the private secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has been dismissed by the Directorate of Vigilance.
His appointment was declared as "illegal" and "void ab initio."
The move came days after the Enforcement Directorate on Monday questioned Kumar in the Delhi excise policy case.
An order issued by Special Secretary (Vigilance) YVVJ Rajasekhar stated that Kumar's services were terminated with immediate effect as he was appointed in violation of Central Civil Service Rules related to temporary appointment.
Service termination
'Immediate termination due to rule violation'
The order read, "...The prescribed procedure and rules for the said engagement of Mr. Kumar were not scrupulously followed, so, such engagement is illegal and void-ab-initio."
The DoV cited an FIR lodged against Kumar as the reason behind the termination.
The case was filed in 2007 by one Mahesh Pal, who was posted at the Development Authority in Noida.
It alleged that Kumar along with three others obstructed the complainant, a public servant, "from discharging his duty and abusing/threatening him".
What FIR says
'No background check against Kumar's pending criminal case'
The FIR further stated that without arresting Kumar and another accused in the case, namely Rajeev Kumar, a charge sheet was submitted before the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court where it's pending currently.
The vigilance department said that a background check regarding Kumar's pending criminal case before his appointment was not done.
"Despite being appointed conditionally...concerns were raised following the directives from the Department of Personnel and Training...regarding appointments without prior verification of character and antecedents," the vigilance department said.