HC show cause notice to ACB Chief on AAP govt's contempt plea

Delhi High Court today issued show cause notice to ACB chief M K Meena and asked him to explain why contempt proceedings be not initiated against him on AAP government's plea alleging that he violated the court's order by removing an SHO of the anti-graft body.
Justice V P Vaish also issued show cause notice to inspector Brij Mohan, who was appointed as the new SHO of ACB by Meena, for allegedly not lodging FIR on complaints received by the ACB between June 8 and 17.
The court sought response from Meena and Mohan on the next date of hearing on August 25.

Meanwhile, it asked the Anti-Corruption Bureau(ACB) Chief to be present in court on August 4 to explain the allegation of Delhi government that SDM was not being permitted to deposit seized case property with ACB.
The court also issued notice to the Centre on this plea of the Delhi government which has also sought directions to ACB "to receive the complaint from the SDM, register an FIR and carry out investigation in accordance with law."
The AAP government had yesterday moved the High Court seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Meena, who had shunted out inspector Vinay Malik as SHO ACB, appointed by city government, and posted inspector Brij Mohan in his place.

Delhi government, in its contempt plea, has said it was constrained to file the contempt petition as Meena had "willfully violated" the court's June 29, 2015, order, which had asked Lt Governor-appointee ACB chief to act in "accordance with the law".
The Aam Aadmi Party government has also sought contempt proceedings against Brij Mohan, saying he was acting under "direct instruction and orders of Meena".
The petition claimed that Meena had purportedly scrapped the anti-corruption helpline number established with approval of Council of Ministers of the Delhi government and "posted personnel in the ACB despite not having authority to do so.