The Directorate of Vigilance (DoV) sacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary Bibhav Kumar, saying his appointment was illegal.
Special Secretary (Vigilance) Y.V.V.J. Rajasekhar, in an order, stated that Kumar's appointment violated Central Civil Service Rules regarding temporary appointment.
“The Competent Authority hereby terminates the engagement of Bibhav Kumar, in terms of the provisions of Rule 5 of the Central Civil Services (Temporary Service) Rules, 1965, with immediate effect," the order reads.
The DoV cited a 2007 FIR registered against Kumar over obstructing a public servant, Mahesh Pal, who was serving in the Development Authority in Noida, from discharging his duty and threatening him. The chargesheet is pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court and the DoV said a background check regarding the case was not done when Kumar was appointed.
"Despite being appointed conditionally based on the pending outcome of a criminal case against him (FIR 102/07 under IPC sections 353, 504, and 506), concerns were raised following the directives from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) regarding appointments without prior verification of character and antecedents," the vigilance authority stated.
The development comes a day after Kumar and Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal met the Delhi CM at 'mulakat jangla' inside Tihar Jail on Tuesday. It was reportedly Kejriwal's first in-person meeting with the duo since he was remanded in judicial custody on April 1. They were allowed to meet for half an hour.
On Monday, the Enforcement Directorate questioned Kumar in connection with the excise policy case.
