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In another round of bitter confrontation, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today questioned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's decision to induct five police officers from Bihar in its elite Anti-Corruption Branch, 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.
"ACB Delhi, being a police station, functions under the authority, control and supervision of the Lt Governor, a position that has also been clarified by the Ministry of Home Affairs, vide Notification No 1368 (E), dated 21st May 2015.
"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.
On its part, the AAP government justified the move and made a stinging attack on the Lt Governor and the Centre while asserting that it has "full power" to hire officials for the ACB.
"Delhi Government has full power to take police officers from anywhere in the country. Previously too it had been done. The Centre is making a joke of everything. Sometimes they make the L-G say that officers will come under it, sometimes they make the L-G say ACB will come under it.
"They will not obey the Constitution, Court order and the law. They may say someday that they will run the White House through the L-G," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.
