DCW recruitment scam: ACB to issue notice to Manish Sisodia

After filing an FIR against Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal over alleged irregularities in appointment of staff in the women's panel, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) will now issue a notice to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the matter.

Speaking to the media here, ACB Chief MK Meena said that Sisodia will be issued a notice and grilled in the case, along with other people involved.

Sisodia had written a letter demanding an autonomous status for the women's panel, but an issue cropped up since only the Chief Minister has the authority to write that letter to the Lieutenant Governor.

"Sisodia will also be grilled and we will ask him on whose authority did he send the letter," Meena said.

Stating that it was found prima facie after an enquiry that there were confirmed irregularities in the appointments in DCW, Meena asserted that the panel does not have the authority to make such decisions and that they were not even implementing a transparent manner in the case, like advertising about the job vacancies.

"The complaint stated that these people have done the recruitment against the procedures and they do not have the authority to hire people in that manner. Besides that, they are giving out salaries on an arbitrary basis and on their own call. There are also some people who got jobs because they were close to those within the panel," he said.

Emphasising that this was a complete misuse of authority and funds, the ACB chief said that a case has been filed against DCW Chief Swati Maliwal under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC sections.

"All the concerned people in this matter, including the DCW chairman and other officers will be grilled and then action will be taken accordingly. The other people are those who are accomplice to aiding the irregularities," Meena added.

Earlier today, an FIR was filed against Swati Maliwal over alleged irregularities in appointment of staff in the women's panel.

This development came after she was grilled by the ACB yesterday over the matter.

Speaking to the media after being questioned, Maliwal said that they have asked her 27 questions and have given her a week to respond, adding that the questions pertain to how the DCW managed to make so many appointments.

"In the past one year, we have handled 11,500 cases and attended 2.25 lakh calls. In the past eight years, the former chairperson managed only one case. What is troubling everyone is how we managed to do so much work. We will cooperate with the investigation," Maliwal said.

The DCW is under the ACB scanner for arbitrarily appointing 85 people in the past year.

Around 90 per cent of contractual staff of the Delhi Commission for Women, led by Maliwal, are members of her party.

Earlier the ACB had raided Maliwal's office following a complaint by Barkha Shukla Singh alleging that it was indulging in illegal practices of appointing its party associates to plum posts.

However, Maliwal said she will be not "be scared or silenced," and that the DCW will continue working for women.