DCW chief Swati Maliwal summoned as accused in graft case

DCW chief Swati Maliwal was today summoned as an accused by a special court in a case of alleged irregularities in recruitment in the women's panel.

Special Judge Hemani Malhotra took cognisance of the charge sheet filed against Maliwal by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in the case.

"I accordingly summon Swati Maliwal for February 6 to face trial," the judge said.

The court summoned her for the alleged offences under section 13 (criminal misconduct by public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

It, however, said the investigating officer (IO) has not probed as to who were the associates of Maliwal allegedly involved in the offence.
 

It directed the IO to further investigate the matter regarding the role of other accused.

The charge sheet was filed on December 21, 2016 in connection with alleged irregularities in appointment of AAP workers in DCW.

The ACB had taken up the probe on a complaint by former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Barkha Shukla Singh, who alleged that several AAP supporters were given plum posts in the women's panel.

Singh, in her complaint, had listed the names of 85 people who, she claimed, got jobs "without requisite credentials".

The FIR was registered against Maliwal on September 20 last year. The ACB had been probing the matter for the last nearly seven months.

An ACB officer had earlier said that based on questioning of DCW employees, it was found that due procedure "was not followed in appointments" and a total of 91 appointments were allegedly found to be made without following due process and even their salary was hiked in a whimsical manner.

Maliwal had earlier said that the FIR will not act as a deterrent for her and the panel will continue to work and raise questions which is "disturbing her opponents the most".

"Even if I am sent to jail, I will prepare a report on the condition of women there and submit it to the Delhi government. The Delhi government and the Centre are working together towards ensuring safety of women," she had said.