DCW scam: Sisodia cries foul, says some people conspiring against AAP

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was summoned by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) for questioning in connection with its probe into an alleged recruitment scam in the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), today said some people are conspiring against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as they are extremely upset with the working of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government.

"We are working for the people of Delhi, but some people are not able to accept it. That is why they have left the ACB, the CBI everyone behind us. It is all right, we will answer them," Sisodia told the media here prior to appearing before the ACB.

Sisodia had reportedly 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," ACB chief M.K. Meena had said.

Stating 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, adding the AAP Government was not even implementing a transparent manner 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.

Emphasizing that this was 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 various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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