New Delhi, August 21 (HS):

The Delhi court on Thursday recorded the statement of retired Sub-Inspector Roop Singh, a prosecution witness in the case relating to alleged irregularities in appointments at the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) during the tenure of former chairperson and current MP Swati Maliwal.

Special Judge Jitender Singh at Rouse Avenue Court directed that the testimony of another witness be recorded on August 22. Notably, Maliwal did not appear in court; however, her counsel Shivam Malhotra sought exemption from personal appearance, which the court allowed.

So far, statements of seven prosecution witnesses have been recorded in the case. Along with Maliwal, other accused include DCW members Promila Gupta, Sarika Chaudhary, and Farheen Malik. They face charges under IPC Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Earlier testimonies include two witnesses — Rajkumar Tomar and retired Inspector Bhoop Singh — on August 19, Manoj Kumar and Usha Ganguly on July 30, Deputy Director Humra Khalid from Delhi’s Women & Child Development Department on April 28, and Manoj Kumar from the Finance Department on March 19. The court had initially framed charges against Maliwal and three others in December 2022, a decision later challenged by Maliwal in the High Court but dismissed.

Genesis of the Case

The case traces back to August 11, 2016, when former MLA Barkha Singh lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) alleging large-scale irregularities in DCW appointments. She claimed that rules were flouted to induct individuals linked to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The complaint named three such appointees and attached a list of 85 alleged AAP-linked individuals purportedly recruited by the commission. Following a preliminary inquiry, the ACB registered an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

With witness testimonies continuing, the trial against Swati Maliwal and others remains a key corruption case closely watched in Delhi’s political and legal circles.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar