HC refuses to issue order on AAP govt plea against ACB chief Meena

New Delhi, Aug 4: Delhi High Court today declined to issue an immediate order on AAP government's plea seeking lodging of a case against LG-appointed Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) chief M K Meena for not receiving a complaint made by an SDM against some DDA officials while they were allegedly accepting bribe.

Justice V P Vaish refused to pass any order on Delhi government's oral submission and said he will take up the issue on August 11, when an ongoing litigation challenging the Centre's notification giving Lt Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung absolute powers to appoint bureaucrats in the national capital is slated to be heard.

"Come on August 11, I will decide it," the judge said. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Centre, said AAP government has a "grudge" against the ACB chief and want him out. He said the ACB chief had in the instant case acted in accordance with law and there has been no wilful disobedience.

The court also did not pass any order on AAP government's prayer that the SDM be permitted to deposit the seized case property with the ACB or with the Registrar General (RG) of High Court, saying "what will the RG do with the case property".

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, who was representing AAP government, said there was a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification which says even if ACB has no jurisdiction to lodge an FIR, they should at least register a zero FIR and transfer the case to the concerned police station.

He said that if the ACB does not do so, then an FIR should be lodged against the officer concerned. The ASG told the court that Meena was present in court pursuant to its July 29 direction and opposed AAP government's contention alleging they have a "grudge" against the ACB chief and want him out.

The ASG, however, sought more time to file a response on behalf of the Centre and Meena, after which the court listed the matter for August 11.

The court was hearing Delhi government's application alleging that Meena has been "misusing his powers to browbeat and threaten officials of ACB and the Vigilance Department", after AAP government-nominated ACB chief S S Yadav accused Meena of threatening and pressurising him.

PTI