The Vigilance requests ACB to look into the former consultant’s involvement at DJB

New Delhi: The anti-corruption section of the directorate of vigilance has been directed to “holistically” investigate the role played by a former Delhi Jal Board consultant in influencing the water utility’s choices and to take appropriate action against him.

The special secretary for vigilance of ACB wrote a letter to the joint commissioner on Monday, stating that Ankit Srivastava, who was fired from his consultant position, was still a member of the “Minister (Water) Group” WhatsApp group and continued to advise senior DJB officials even though he lacked standing in numerous cases.

In his letter to ACB, special secretary, vigilance, YVVJ Rajasekhar claimed, “It was also noticed that he had been actively engaging, giving directions on Iradat Nagar Lake, tubewell installation, coordinating on behalf of the chief minister camp office, receiving mail and access to the CM camp office and passing instructions to senior officers of DJB.”

The letter further said, “It was also prima facie found to have been strangling senior technical officers of DJB from giving any technical advice and not allowing them to explain their views.”

On July 27, 2023, Srivastava was fired from his position as consultant (hydraulics and water bodies) in the Delhi government, along with a number of other fellows and advisers who had allegedly been hired without following the proper procedures. Officials said that he attended the organization’s meetings and remained a member of the WhatsApp group until October 5.

The letter said that the private individual’s continued actions, “even after he was removed, pose a serious threat and amount to nothing more than compromising the safety, security, and integrity of DJB.”
The Delhi government said in a statement that the national government’s vigilance department, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, was “witch-hunting” any advisors, consultants, and subject-matter experts who collaborated with the elected government.

“Every secretary, officer of special duty, adviser, and consultant is subjected to ongoing harassment intended to coerce them to cease their job on behalf of the public good. The elected administration claimed in a statement that “as a transparent government, the Delhi government had started multiple policies to attract young professionals and experienced domain experts to work with it.”
For political purposes, the central government is now witch-hunting these experts. The ultimate goal is to bring Delhi’s government to a standstill. The statement said, “It’s an old trick: if you can’t compete with other governments’ good work, try to stop it.”