AAP govt approved plan to get high-end equipment for 'spy unit': CBI PE

The AAP-led government approved a proposal to procure 70 mobile phones with accessories, 75 computers, 22 printers, and five laptops for its clandestine group called the 'Feedback Unit', which worked directly under the office of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the preliminary enquiry (PE) registered into the matter by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has stated.

According to the copy of PE accessed by DNA, the AAP government also sanctioned procurement of "high-end equipment for data and research analysis, surveillance, and monitoring purposes".

DNA had exposed the Feedback Unit scam on March 30, in its report titled 'AAP govt's spy unit comes under scanner', wherein it was reported that the secret unit was given a service fund of Rs 1 crore. It, however, spent only Rs 50,000 on a sting operation to expose corruption in a private school.

The Vigilance Department of the Delhi government, however, later stated that the man who was said to have conducted the sting did not exist. The department has also written to the CBI, giving details about the functioning of the Feedback or alleged spy unit.

The CBI had recommended a thorough probe into the Lieutenant Governor's (LG) allegations of "gross misconduct" by the government. Agency Director Alok Kumar Verma has now assigned inspector-rank officer Harish Chandra in Anti-Corruption Branch to carry out the enquiry into the matter.

Sources in the agency said Verma was personally monitoring the developments in the matter. It is pertinent to mention that Verma has also worked under Kejriwal as Director General of Tihar Jail, before taking the charge of Delhi Police for a year.

The PE further stated that the "spy" unit appointed 20 retired government servants from the intelligence agencies, Research and Analysis Wing, Income-Tax Department, police, and other agencies but five of them resigned after realising that they had to snoop on journalists, bureaucrats, and Central government officials, and other agencies, sources said.

"Delhi CM appointed 20 spies without following any recruitment rules after the proposal was vetted by the think-tank of the AAP government and the Delhi Dialogue Commission," sources said.

The agency has started issuing summons to officials involved in the case, so that their statements can be recorded. Further, they are also trying to identify and locate the 20 "spies" hired by Kejriwal.

As per the documents accessed by DNA, rest of the retired government servants continued their services till the time the LG directed the state to shut down the unit. These officials had direct access to the Secret Service Fund of Rs 1 crore for carrying out stings and snooping. Interestingly, the unit was under the Vigilance Secretary but it functioned under the direct control of the CMO, the PE stated.

The Vigilance Department further told the CBI that they were not aware of the functioning of and the work done by the unit. "No feedback has been received by the Director of Vigilance," the documents stated.

A copy of the resolution to set up the unit, accessed by DNA, stated: "A need has been felt to monitor the activities of various departments in vigilance-related matters. Therefore, a unit may be created in the Directorate of Vigilance, Government of NCT of Delhi, manned by serving as well as retired personnel to gather relevant information and actionable feedback regarding the working of the departments/ autonomous bodies/ institution/entities etc. falling under the jurisdiction of government of NCT of Delhi."

ACB’S HARISH CHANDRA TO LEAD PROBE

• The CBI had recommended a thorough probe into the L-G allegations of “gross misconduct”
   
• Harish Chandra of  Anti-Corruption Branch to carry out the enquiry into the matter
   
• Sources in the agency said Verma was personally monitoring the developments in the matter
   
• It is pertinent to mention that Verma has also worked under Kejriwal as Director General of Tihar Jail