Manish Sisodia questioned over recruitment irregularities in DCW

Delhi government's Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) questioned Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia for over three hours on Friday over alleged irregularities in recruitment in Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).

"First CBI now this... We'll answer everyone," Sisodia said as he arrived at the ACB office on Friday morning.

The matter had come to light after former DCW chief Barkha Singh filed a complaint with the ACB over irregularities in hiring by the current chief Swati Maliwal.

Singh alleges that over 85 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) loyalists were given plum positions in the DCW. Maliwal was earlier questioned on September 29.

"In the documents that were probed by the ACB, it was found that there was a letter from the office of Sisodia that had authorised DCW as a body with financial autonomy. As per rules, only the LG can grant financial autonomy to a body. We will be questioning him on this aspect," sources told India TV.

The AAP-led Delhi government alleges that they are being targeted by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and hence are not able to perform their duties.

Maliwal had earlier dismissed the accusations against Sisodia. She had also said that she was stopped from doing her work as she has done more work than the previous DCW chiefs.

"Shocking. Manish Sisodia has no role at all in DCW appointments. Why is he being summoned by ACB?" she tweeted.

ACB chief Mukesh Kumar Meena has confirmed that there are irregularities over hiring in the DCW. He said that decisions were done without the approval of Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.

The AAP government has maintained that Delhi should get statehood and it has been battling over having administration powers in the state over the Lieutenant Governor.