Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s private secretary, Bibhav Kumar is being questioned by the Anti-Corruption Branch today, in connection with the alleged Rs 400 crore tanker scam.

Last week, the anti-graft body had summoned Bibhav and he joined the investigation today, says reports.

A senior offical said “He arrived at 11.30 AM for the questioning at the ACB office. His questioning is currently underway.” Kumar had been asked to get some files and they are being examined. Kumar is being interrogated after suspended Delhi minister Kapil Mishra pointed out the names of Keriwal’s associates, Bibhav and Ashish Talwar. Kapil Mishra had alleged that Kejriwal and his associates were responsible for suppressing the file of the tanker scam and saved former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit. Sources say Mishra also claimed that Kejriwal’s aide had asked him to delay sending of a few reports to the then Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung in connection with the alleged scam.

“The investigation into the tanker scam was repeatedly delayed and influenced by Kejriwal and “his two men””, alleged Mishra.

The ACB had examined Sheila Dikshit in August last year, in connection with her alleged involvement in the tanker scam besides being handed over a set of 18 written questions. Mishra till some time back, had been accusing the BJP of protecting Dikshit in the case but a couple of weeks back, he alleged that the AAP government tried to protect her.

In June 2015, the Kejriwal-led AAP government constituted a fact-finding committee to go into alleged irregularities in procuring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). In June 2016, the Delhi government sent a report of the fact-finding committee to Najeeb Jung following which an FIR was registered in the case.

It is believed that Bibhav is very close to Kejriwal, since the time when the AAP Chief used to run an NGO. 

SUPRAJA