Modi government diluted ACB powers: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday hit out at the Narendra Modi government over its order concerning the powers of the city's elected government, saying it had also taken away the powers of Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to probe central government staff.

"Earlier during our 49-day tenure, the ACB had started a probe against big people who were involved in corrupt practices. Once our tenure was over, the central government released an order limiting the powers of the ACB to probe Delhi government staff," Kejriwal said at a rally at the Central Park in Connaught Place here.

"In the order, the BJP limited the jurisdiction of the ACB saying it could conduct a probe only against officials of the Delhi government, whereas since its inception, it (ACB) had been given powers to probe any officer in Delhi whether he is of central government, Delhi government, MCD or of Delhi police, if involved in corrupt practices," he said.

Kejriwal hailed the Delhi High Court's verdict which ruled that the city government's ACB has the "jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute" Delhi Police officials.

The union home ministry had issued an order in July last year limiting the powers of the ACB to only employees of the Delhi government.

The notification said the 1993 order of the Lt. Governor shall "apply to the officers and employees of the government of the national capital".

Last week, the union home ministry again issued a notification saying that the Lt. Governor will have the last word in posting and transfer of bureaucrats in Delhi and took away the power of the ACB, which is under the Delhi government, to prosecute "officers, employees and functionaries" of the central government.