ACB vs Swati Maliwal: The battle continues

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of Delhi filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Swati Maliwal and other officials from Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) over irregularities in recruitment on Tuesday.

“After a two-month-long investigation, we have lodged an FIR under Section 13 (1) D of Prevention of Corruption Act, and Sections 120 B and 409 of IPC (Indian Penal Code),” Deputy Commissioner of Police Ombir Singh told Newslaundry. Interestingly, the complaint that led to the FIR being lodged was filed byformer DCW chief Barkha Shukla Singh on August 12, just over a month ago.

In her complaint, Singh alleged that DCW chief Maliwal flouted norms while recruiting 85 officials. A two-member team of the ACB had raided DCW’s office on August 18. Maliwal had then described the raid as “tactics of intimidation”.

“We have addressed 12,000 cases this year, which is why we needed staff,” Maliwal told Newslaundry. “Band kar dete, tala laga dete kya Dilli Mahila aayog par? (Should we have shut down DCW?)” She added that a sudden spurt in the number of calls to the women’s helpline number (181) forced DCW to hire 16 people. According to her, all other recruitments were made as and when people were required.

The FIR comes a day after ACB officers questioned Maliwal over appointments during her tenure. She was given a 27-point questionnaire and has been asked to respond within a week. For further investigation, the ACB is likely to quiz Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, and other officials from the commission.

The ACB is also looking into the authenticity of a letter dated March, 2016, which referred to DCW as an ‘autonomous body’. “We are going to verify the authenticity of the letter, and whether it was routed through the Lieutenant Governor’s office,” said Singh.

Maliwal said the Delhi government sent the letter, but only when DCW sought a clarification on the issue. While she claimed that DCW is an autonomous body just like any other women’s commission in the country, this is what the law says:

“How can a commission work if it is not autonomous,” Maliwal told Newslaundry. “If we have to work under the Ministry, do you think we can question the Minister?”