DNA Exclusive: Five AAP 'spies' quit when asked to snoop on scribes, babus

The alleged spy unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government 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.

DNA has accessed the list of 14 active members of the snooping team who continued their activities on the directions of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office, tracking individuals and government servants even as six others quit.

"While two left within two months of their appointment, three others followed later. Interestingly, one was later asked to quit by the government," said a source.

Delhi Chief Minister had initially planned a 49-member spy team but finally 20 were appointed without following any "recruitment rules" after the proposal was vetted by the think-tank of the AAP government and Delhi Dialogue Commission, sources said.

As per the documents accessed by DNA, 14 retired government servants continued their services till the time the Lieutenant-Governor directed the state government to close down the unit. The Deputy Director of the Feedback Unit, allegedly known as spy unit, was PK Punj and the Feedback Officers were Satish Kumar Khetarpai, BS Naryal and Om Prakash Singh.

The Assistant Feedback Officers are identified as Awatar Singh Rawat, Rajinder Singh, Ranbir Singh, R Kumar and Narendra Singh and Junior Feedback Officers were Ramesh Kumar Singh, Sanjay Kumar Sharma, Surendra Singh, Sumer Singh and Vijendra Singh.

While most of them joined on February 22, 2016, Om Prakash Singh joined on April 19, 2016, Punj on February 29, 2016, R Kumar on February 23, 2016 and Ramesh Kumar Singh on March 7.
"They were appointed violating recruitment rules," the documents stated.

These officials had direct access to the Secret Service Fund of Rs 1 crore for carrying out stings and snooping. Documents with DNA show that the "unit was under the Vigilance Secretary but it functioned under the direct control of the Chief Minister's Office."

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

A copy of resolution for setting 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."

Thereafter the cabinet directed the Principal Secretary of Vigilance Department Chetan B Sanghi to come up with the proposal to the chief minister.

Illusive office of Spy Unit

Sources said that the spy unit was set up a floor below the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) office at Vikash Bhavan II at Civil Lines in Delhi in the name of ACB, but even the anti-corruption body was not aware about it. The ACB office is on fifth floor at Vikash Bhavan II at Civil Lines and the Feedback Unit was on fourth floor Vikash Bhavan II at Civil Lines.

ACB not aware of spy wing.

DNA had reported on March 29 that Rs 50,000 were spent to trap a bribery complaint in a school named Kalka Public School, Alaknanda. The amount was allocated to Kailash Chand, Upper Division Clerk in the ACB. But, interestingly, after scrutinising the records, the Vigilance Department was perplexed as there was no person by that name in the ACB. On Friday, ACB chief Mukesh Kumar Meena said there is no Kailash Chand in the ACB and they are not aware about any spy wing.