Delhi Court puts DCW chief Swati Maliwal on trial over “strong suspicion” of corruption
First Published: 9th December, 2022 12:47 IST
Along with DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal, the court also ordered to put then members of DCW Promila Gupta, Sarika Chaudhary and Farheen Malick on trial.
A special court on Thursday ordered the framing of corruption and criminal conspiracy charges against Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal and 3 others after finding prima facie sufficient material that the accused had abused their official position in allegedly appointing Aam Admi Party (AAP) workers to different posts in the commission.
The court observed that a strong suspicion does arise against all four accused persons and the facts do disclose prima facie sufficient material to frame charges against all the four accused persons for offences U/s 120B of IPC r/w Sec. 13(1)(d)/13(2) of POC Act, as well as for the substantive offence U/s 13(2) r/w Sec. 13(1)(2) of POC Act. Charges be framed accordingly, said Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh.
Along with DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal, the court also ordered to put then members of DCW Promila Gupta, Sarika Chaudhary and Farheen Malick on trial.
According to the prosecution, all the four accused in the conspiracy were together involved in abusing their official position and obtained pecuniary advantages for the party workers and acquaintances of Swati Maliwal as well as the ruling party namely AAP. It has been alleged that such workers and acquaintances were appointed to different posts of DCW without following due process. Instead, the appointments were made in contravention of procedures, Rules, Regulations, without even advertising for the positions, in violation of General Finance Rules (GFR) and other guidelines and money was disbursed to various such persons towards remuneration/salary/ honorarium.
While passing the order the Court said that the perusal of minutes of the meetings held on various dates by the DCW, in which all four accused were signatories, was “enough to prima facie point to a strong suspicion that the appointments in question were made by the accused persons in agreement with each other”.
The court further said that the argument made by the accused persons that DCW was completely autonomous in creating posts or recruiting anyone of its choice, falls flat from the very fact that DCW itself sought permission / Sanction of the Government for the creation of posts vide note and further proceedings dated 28.10.2015, which is part of chargesheet.
Merely because DCW had been pursuing the Government to fill up the vacant posts which were not timely complied with by the Government did not give any right to DCW to make arbitrary appointments, the court observed.
The above-mentioned facts do create a strong suspicion that recruitments to various posts were made during the impugned tenure of the accused persons for different remunerations in an arbitrary manner,
violating all Rules & Regulations in which the near & dear ones were appointed and remunerations were given to them from public exchequer, said the court in order. (ANI)
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Tipra Motha Turns Up the Heat: Demands Centre Act on TIPRASA Accord, Village Elections, and 125th Amendment
14th November 2024Live NEHU Crisis: Union Education Ministry Sets Up 2-Member Inquiry Committee
14th November 2024Live Meghalaya-Based Militant Outfit HNLC Banned for 5 Years by Centre over Security Threats
14th November 2024Live Meghalaya Government Awaits Defence Ministry Nod on Harijan Colony Relocation
14th November 2024WE RECOMMEND
Tipra Motha Turns Up the Heat: Demands Centre Act on TIPRASA Accord, Village Elections, and 125th Amendment
Another crucial demand put forth by the Tipra Motha Party is the urgent need to hold Village Committee elections.
14th November 2024NEHU Crisis: Union Education Ministry Sets Up 2-Member Inquiry Committee
Committee to submit report in 15 days.
14th November 2024Meghalaya-Based Militant Outfit HNLC Banned for 5 Years by Centre over Security Threats
The notification also highlighted that, between November 2019 and June 2024, law enforcement agencies have arrested 73 HNLC cadres
14th November 2024Meghalaya Government Awaits Defence Ministry Nod on Harijan Colony Relocation
Despite the delay, Dhar confirmed that the state government is preparing to make a final decision on the relocation by the end of this year.
14th November 2024Meghalaya Govt Closely Monitoring the Ongoing NEHU Crisis: Dy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar
Meghalaya Govt Closely Monitoring the Ongoing NEHU Crisis: Dy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar Post Views: 39
14th November 2024