Anti-corruption branch to probe role of Maliwal's aides: Court

Swati Maliwal, AAP leader and Delhi Commission for Women's chief, was today summoned as an accused in a case of alleged irregularities in the recruitment process of the women's panel, with a Delhi court directing Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to further probe and identify her associates in the crime.
Special Judge Hemani Malhotra said there was sufficient material and evidence to take cognisance of offences against Maliwal under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and directed her to appear before the court on February 6.
The court, however, said the investigation has not identified Maliwal's associates with whose connivance "illegal practices were adopted" and directed the police to probe their role and file supplementary charge sheet against them.

"After meticulously examining the material placed before this court which includes the FIR, statements of the witnesses and documents, I am of the opinion that there is sufficient material and evidence to take cognisance of offences under Section 13(1)(d) and 13(2) (criminal misconduct by public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act," the judge said.
"However, from material placed on record, it appears that investigation has not identified other associates of Maliwal in whose connivance the illegal practices were adopted.
"It would be, therefore, in the interest of justice that the IO be directed to investigate the matter further and identify the associates/aides of Swati Maliwal who had connived with her and file charge sheet under section 173(8) CrPC," the court further said.

The charge sheet was filed by Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on December 21, 2016 against Maliwal in connection with alleged irregularities in appointment of AAP workers in DCW.
The ACB had taken up probe on a complaint by former DCW chief Barkha Shukla Singh, who had alleged that several AAP supporters were given plum posts in the women's panel.