Delhi assembly resolves against curtailing ACB's powers

The Delhi assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution rejecting as unconstitutional a central order which sought to narrow the scope of investigation by the state government's Anti-Corruption Branch.

The previous Aam Aadmi Party government in 2014 had asked its anti-corruption branch to probe the alleged role of ministers in the then UPA government in a case relating to gas pricing.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who moved the resolution in the assembly on Wednesday, said: "The central government's move to curtail powers of Delhi's anti-corruption body is interference in the Delhi government's work. It is against the constitution."

He said the AAP government would take up with the Centre the issue of curtailment of powers of the Anti-Corruption Branch, signalling a confrontation between the two governments.

Last year in July, the Narendra Modi government had issued a notification stating that the Anti-Corruption Branch could only probe officials working in the Delhi government.