New helpline only to hinder fight against graft: Delhi minister

Meanwhile, the Delhi Government reacted to this decision angrily and issued a statement, calling Meena as an imperator and SS Yadav as the real ACB Chief.

A day after M K Meena, designated as chief of the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) by Najeeb Jung, called for shutting down helpline 1031 because calls were not being routed to it, he announced two new helpline numbers, drawing an immediate reaction from the Arvind Kejriwal government.

Sources said that the 1031 hotline was not handled by ACB personnel, but by people not part of it, which meant Meena was unaware of several complaints made to the ACB.

Contradicting the claims of Meena regarding the functioning of the anti-graft helpline, AAP said “Anti-corruption helpline 1031 stands as helpline for all anti-corruption complaints”. A government, through a strong-worded statement, said Meena’s act of a sheer case of impersonation and the government would initiate action against him.

Meena, whose appointment as the ACB chief by the Lt Governor was rejected by the AAP government, appealed to people to report cases of corruption on the new number, operational from ACB’s office. “No other helpline is working for this objective”, said the statement. “Any attempt to send out confusing statements on helpline 1031, and announcing new helpline number will be dealt legally”. “Helpline (1031) which was started by the Delhi government is the only valid contact to register complaints”, Mr Mishra told the media at Delhi Secretariat”. “Delhi government is working fine”. “Many people might have called on the number but no action has been taken. I don’t want to comment on people who do not have faith in the Constitution and the honourable High Court”, said Meena.

Meena has alleged that for the last one month no case had been transferred to the ACB by the helpline.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre had conspired to derail the ACB after talk of the branch possibly taking action against an Union minister.

Meena said that the new helpline is legal as ACB is notified police station and they can take public complaints directly. The government, once again, refused to acknowledge Meena as Delhi’s ACB chief.