'Gross misconduct' complaint filed against Delhi ACB chief Meena

A complaint was filed before Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking to lodge an FIR against Delhi ACB chief Mukesh Kumar Meena for "gross misconduct" while procuring curtains for Police Training College in 2005.

The complaint against the Anti-Corruption Branch head was filed by retired Delhi Police inspector Jawahar Lal.

"Mukesh Kumar Meena, while functioning as principal of Police Training College, Jharoda Kalan, New Delhi, from May 11, 2005, to July 25, 2005, committed gross misconduct and in conspiracy and collusion with some private firms procured curtains and curtain rods worth Rs.20 lakh (approximately), which was beyond his competence, without obtaining administrative approval and expenditure sanction of the competent authority keeping in view the amount involved," the complaint said.

Meena, thus, failed to comply with the existing general financial rules (GFR) and instructions issued by the Police Department from time to time and acted in a malafide manner unbecoming of a government servant, the complaint alleged.

Thus, the loss of substantial public funds was caused to the state exchequer due to his criminal misconduct to obtain pecuniary advantage, it added.

The complaint said that during the period, Meena arbitrarily caused the curtains and curtain rods to be procured though there were no documents on record on the basis of which the demand for these new material was projected.

Instead of calling for open/limited tender, he arbitrarily allowed to obtain or caused to be obtained apparently fabricated quotations from three local dealers, which is in gross violation of codal formalities prescribed in GFR and instructions issued by the departnment, the complaint said.

On the senior officer's alleged directions, these quotations were processed and accepted.

Meena was appointed the ACB chief earlier this month by Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, which drew flak from the AAP government.

A 1989-batch Indian Police Service Officer, Joint Commissioner Meena took charge of the ACB from Additional Commissioner S.S. Yadav, who was handpicked by the Delhi government for the job.

The development comes as the AAP government and Jung are embroiled in a battle over a host of issues related to the national capital.