LG refuses to direct ACB chief to give records to CoI probing

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has refused to direct ACB chief M K Meena to produce records relating to the alleged CNG fitness scam before the Justice S N Aggarwal inquiry commission, set up by the Delhi government.
In his letter to Justice (retired) Aggarwal, Jung said that since the Union Home Ministry has declared as "legally invalid and void" the Delhi Government-constituted Commission of Inquiry, he is "unable" to assist in this case.
"I am constitutionally bound to follow the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India and am, therefore unable to assist in this matter," the Lt Governor said in his letter, dated January 8.

On December 30, Justice (retired) Aggarwal had written to the LG asking him to direct Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) chief Meena to produce records relating to the case before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).
In the letter, Aggarwal asked Jung to ensure that entire record in Meena's possession be produced before it within a week so that "nobody is blamed for obstructing or unduly delaying the proceedings of the commission at a later date".
In August last year, the Home Ministry had declared as "legally invalid and void" the Commission of Inquiry, saying the Delhi government was not the "competent authority" to set up any such panel.

The panel was set up by the AAP government to probe the award of contract by the Sheila Dikshit dispensation for inspection and certification of commercial vehicles for fitness to a firm in 2002.

It had also issued a non-bailable warrant against Meena in last September, which was stayed by the Delhi High Court.
"This commission is of the view that to ensure expeditious conclusion of inquiry proceedings it is necessary that the relevant records pertaining to CNG fitness Scam in possession of Mr Meena should be produced before the commission immediately so that the inquiry may continue and brought to a logical end at an early date.

"I hope you agree that nobody is gaining anything by withholding the records as by the time the inquiry may be concluded the final orders of the honourable HC would also come and that shall be binding on all concerned including the commission," Aggarwal wrote to the LG.