Bibhav Kumar, the personal assistant (PA) to imprisoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has been dismissed from his position. The Directorate of Vigilance (DoV) made this decision in connection with an ongoing case against him for ‘obstruction’.
YVVJ Rajshekhar, Special Secretary Vigilance, issued the order, citing a 2007 case against Bibhav Kumar where he was accused of obstructing government work.
“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 stated.
The order highlighted the serious nature of the charges against Bibhav Kumar, including the accusation of ‘assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty’ (section 353 IPC). The order noted that the trial against Bibhav Kumar is at the evidence stage, indicating that he is not cleared from a vigilance perspective.
“Any serious lapse in the verification procedure could result in appointment of persons in the personal staff of Ministers, MP and other government bodies, who are otherwise not eligible to man the post. This is fraught with dangers because such persons could also have access to sensitive information and data,” the order emphasized.
This action was taken two days after Bibhav Kumar and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Durgesh Pathak were questioned by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in a money laundering probe related to irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 case. Bibhav Kumar was interrogated by ED investigators on Monday following his morning deposition, while Pathak’s questioning commenced in the afternoon after separate summonses were issued against them.
Previously, in February, Bibhav Kumar was also questioned by the ED and his statements were recorded in connection with the case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
This decision follows shortly after the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal by the federal agency in the same case.