Jung says he controls Delhi's anti-corruption branch

Delhi's Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung on Tuesday said the city's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) functions under his "authority, control and supervision".

The assertion came after a media report said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had appointed six Bihar Police officials in the ACB.

"This refers to a news item published in a couple of dailies today about the reported posting of police officials from Bihar in Delhi's ACB," an official release from Jung's office said.

"The ACB, being a police station, functions under the authority, control and supervision of the lt. governor, a position that has also been clarified by the ministry of home affairs on May 21," the statement said.

The statement said no proposal on posting of police officials from outside had been received by Jung's office.

"The matter will be duly examined as and when the lt. governor receives the formal proposal from the Vigilance Department of the Delhi government," it added.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia justified his government's move and said: "The Delhi government and the ACB have complete power to appoint police officers from anywhere across the country.

"The central government has made a mockery of every issue," he said.

AAP leader Ashutosh told the media: "If the ACB is strengthened, who needs to be scared? Only the ones who are corrupt. Then why are officials not letting that happen?"

"The Centre fears a strong ACB may put some of their leaders in jail," he said.

AAP spokesperson Sanjay Singh said: "We have officers here on deputation from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Is it a crime to get officers from Bihar?"

According to a media report, six Bihar Police officials -- a deputy superintendent, three inspectors and two sub-inspectors -- have been appointed in the ACB.

The officers have not been assigned specific duties.

The developments come amid an escalating turf war between Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over some key issues of governance.