The recent denial of an in-person meeting between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his wife, Sunita, at Tihar Jail has sparked outcry, with AAP leader Sanjay Singh branding the move as "inhumane." Amidst Kejriwal's incarceration following his arrest in the liquor policy case, Singh highlighted the stringent restrictions, noting that Kejriwal can only interact with his family through a window, a measure typically reserved for hardened criminals. This revelation has fueled allegations of attempts to undermine Kejriwal's morale and rights as an inmate, drawing sharp criticism, particularly from AAP circles.
The AAP calls Arvind Kejriwal's refusal to have a face-to-face meeting with his wife "inhumane."
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his wife, according to AAP leader Sanjay Singh, are only able to view each other via a window and are not permitted to meet face-to-face at the Tihar Jail.
Leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Sanjay Singh, asserted on Saturday that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested in connection with the liquor policy case and is now being held at the Tihar Jail, has been denied permission for an in-person meeting with his wife Sunita- and can only meet her through a window. He slammed the move as "inhumane".
Sanjay Singh, who was granted release earlier this month after spending six months in Tihar following his detention in the same case last October, spoke during a press conference in Delhi, said that "even dreaded criminals are allowed to have meetings in their barracks".
"But a three-time Chief Minister of Delhi is being made to meet his wife through a window with a glass in between. Why such inhumane behaviour?" he queried.
According to Sanjay Singh, there is an effort to undermine Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's morale by preventing him from seeing family while incarcerated in Tihar. His family was only allowed to meet him through the jangla. This is inhuman,' Singh said.
Sanjay Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP and senior AAP leader, stated on Saturday that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was not permitted to have face-to-face interactions with his family while he was being held in Tihar jail.
Addressing a press conference, Singh said, "There is an attempt to break the morale of CM Kejriwal.” “His family has not been allowed in-person meetings with him. They are only allowed to meet him through the jangla. This is inhuman. Even hardcore criminals are allowed in-person meetings," the AAP leader said.
The'mulakat jangla' is a room within the jail where visitors and inmates are divided by an iron mesh. Sitting on opposite sides of the mesh allows a visitor and an inmate to converse with one another.
"In the same Tihar jail, many meetings take place… but Arvind Kejriwal, a three-time elected chief minister, is being humiliated and made to meet his family through the jangla. This is happening at the behest of the BJP-led Central government," Singh said.
"His rights as an inmate are being snatched," stated the AAP politician, who earlier this month received bail from the Supreme Court in the Delhi excise policy case.
The officials in Tihar took a while to react.
The Enforcement Directorate has detained Kejriwal in connection with a money laundering case involving the purported excise policy fraud. His judicial custody is being maintained in Tihar jail until April 15.
The jail authorities said on Friday that Kejriwal could meet the AAP convener as a regular visitor in the "mulakat jangla," but that their meeting with Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann would only take place on April 15.
On Tuesday, the chief minister had a meeting with his personal secretary Bibhav Kumar and wife Sunita Kejriwal inside Tihar Jail.
Delhi's Directorate of Vigilance fires Arvind Kejriwal's secretary, Bibhav Kumar
Citing a 2007 case, Special Secretary Vigilance, YVVJ Rajshekhar, issued the order mandating his dismissal.
New Delhi: Bibhav Kumar, the detained chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary, has had his employment with Delhi's Directorate of Vigilance terminated. Citing a 2007 case against him, Special Secretary, Vigilance, YVVJ Rajshekhar issued the order mandating his removal.
"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.
As per the directive, Bibhav Kumar was charged by Mahesh Pal, a government servant, of abusing him and preventing him from carrying out his duties.
"The Station House Officer, Police Station, Sector-20 Noida, vide Letter dated 29.04.23 (Page 76/C) has informed that the FIR No. 102/2007 was filed on 25.01.2007 by the complainant Sh. Mahesh Pal who was posted at Development Authority, Sector 6, Noida. The said FIR was registered under Sections 353/504/506 of IPC against Sh. Rajeev Kwnar S’o Sh. Ram Kewal and Sh. Bibhay Kumar S/o Sh. Maheshwar Roy for obstructing the complainant, a public servant, from discharging his duty and abusing/ threatening the complainant," the order said.
A complaint has been filed against Bibhav Kumar, according to the order.
The directive additionally specified that prior to involving non-government officials, the moral fiber and background checks of ministers' personal staff members must be made.
It further stated that Bibhav Kumar is unclear when looking at his case from a vigilance perspective.
Bibhav Kumar was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier this week over the money laundering investigation related to the Delhi excise policy issue. According to those with knowledge of the situation, Kumar was questioned to get more information about certain papers related to the excise investigation.
