Home Ministry backs L-G, says he's the final authority to decide on appointments to ACB

New Delhi: In another bitter war of words between Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and the Arvind Kejriwal government, Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday said the Lt Governor is the final authority to decide on appointments to Anti-Corruption Bureau. MHA sources said ACB is a police station and the Lt Governor is the final and competent authority for appointments.

The Home Ministry statement came amidst turf war between the Lt Governor and the Aam Aadmi Party government over the issue of appointment of officers from Bihar to Delhi's ACB.

Jung questioned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's decision to induct five police officers from Bihar in its elite ACB, triggering sharp reaction from the AAP Government. Three inspectors and two sub-inspectors of Bihar Police have joined Delhi government's ACB after a request in this regard by the AAP government to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's office.

Reacting strongly to the decision, Jung's office virtually rejected the appointment of the five police officials from Bihar and reaffirmed that the ACB functions under his direct authority and control.

"The office of the Lt Governor has so far not received any proposal for the deputation of such personnel from outside Delhi Police. The matter will be duly examined as and when the Lt Governor receives the formal proposal from the Vigilance department of Delhi government," the LG's office said in a statement.

Hitting out at the Centre, AAP spokesperson Ashutosh justified the move saying, "Centre fears that a strong ACB may put some of their leaders in jail. The Lt Governor is probably getting calls from Home Ministry every day with instructions."

However, the BJP supported Jung and accused the AAP government of picking up "unnecessary fights" with the Lt Governor and not following the Constitution.

Senior BJP leader Satish Upadhyay said, "People from the Union Territory cadre must work in Delhi. By bringing people from outside, rights of the cadre are taken away."

A request for the Bihar Police officers was recently sent by Delhi government, following which the five officers were dispatched.

Delhi Police and ACB have recently come face to face after some of the former's men were arrested by the anti-graft unit for allegedly accepting bribe.

The move to induct policemen from Bihar also seems to be aimed at reducing ACB's reliance on Delhi Police as till now all its officers were derived from it.