FIR against DCW chief Swati Maliwal over 'irregularities' in appointments

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Tuesday filed an FIR against Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal over alleged irregularities in appointment of staff in the women's panel.

The FIR has been filed under Prevention of Corruption Act and comes 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.

Last month, Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal had warned that Maliwal will be arrested soon as there are numerous decisions of the AAP-led Delhi government which Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to be reversed through the LG.

Quoting sources, the AAP Chief added that the LG was 'hell bent' on removing the team which made clinics and saved money on flyovers, adding that Maliwal was in danger too.

"Increase min wages in Delhi. Is it illegal? Sources: Big cos met Modiji n opposed it. Now LG sitting on that file. LG hell bent on removing the team which made moh clinics and saved money on flyovers. Sources-LG n PMO hell bent on removing Swati Maliwal 4 doing gud job. She'll be arrested coming week n then removed," he said.

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.