More trouble for Kejriwal: Why the Delhi CM’s ‘Man Friday’ Bibhav Kumar has been sacked

The troubles keep mounting for Arvind Kejriwal. After the Supreme Court refused to hear his case, the Delhi chief minister’s private secretary, Bibhav Kumar, has been sacked on grounds of “illegal appointment”. In their order sacking him, the Delhi vigilance department termed his appointment illegal and void.

Notably, the move comes days after he was questioned by authorities in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.

Who is Bibhav Kumar? Why has he been sacked? We explore all this and more.

Bibhav Kumar — Kejriwal’s Man Friday

Kumar is considered a close aide of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, with many even calling him Kejriwal’s Man Friday. Kumar was hired as private secretary on a co-terminus basis in 2015 and was reengaged in 2020 when Aam Aadmi Party formed the government again.

But who exactly is Bibhav Kumar? A former video journalist, Kumar first came in touch with the AAP chief in the early 2000s when he was editing videos for a magazine launched by the members of India Against Corruption — the body that later evolved into AAP.

Since then, he has been around Kejriwal, guiding him through his daily routine and becoming one of the Delhi CM’s most trusted people. According to a report in The Print, Kumar also serves as a sounding board to the CM. Furthermore, he ensures that Kejriwal follows his diet — he’s a diabetic — and takes his medicines on time.

It is reported that when Kejriwal was travelling to Punjab during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he was suffering from an agonising toothache. At the time, it was Kumar who ensured that Kejriwal was given food immediately in order for him to take his medicines.

Owing to the significant role he plays in Kejriwal’s life when it comes to his eating and medicines, Kumar has earned the title of Kejriwal’s Man Friday.

Sacked!

On Thursday morning (11 April), the Vigilance Department issued an order, terminating the services of Kumar. As per the order, Kumar has a charge of assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty registered against him in Noida. The law prevents the engagement of persons with criminal charges against them in government service.

“…The prescribed procedure and rules for the said engagement of Sh Bibhav Kumar were not scrupulously followed, so, such engagement is illegal and void-ab-initio,” read the order, adding that his services were being terminated with immediate effect.

The case mentioned by the authorities is a 2007 one in which a Mahesh Pal, who was posted at the Development Authority in Noida, alleged that Kumar along with three others obstructed the complainant, a public servant, “from discharging his duty and abusing/threatening him”.

The vigilance department stated that a background check about his pending criminal check was not done.

“Despite being appointed conditionally based on the pending outcome of a criminal case against him (FIR 102/07 under IPC sections 353, 504, and 506), concerns were raised following the directives from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) regarding appointments without prior verification of character and antecedents,” the vigilance department said.

It emphasised that administrative action is “essential”; hence the dismissal of Arvind Kejriwal’s personal assistant.

The AAP slammed the move with leader Jasmine Shah said, “First the Delhi CM is arrested in the fake Delhi liquor case. Now, the LG has started sacking his entire staff, including his private secretary.”

On the other hand, BJP termed the move necessary. BJP’s Kapil Mishra was quoted as telling News18, “Bibhav’s removal was necessary. Firstly, his appointment was illegal, secondly he was under investigation in corruption cases, and thirdly and most importantly, Kejriwal is in jail. At the behest of liquor policy case accused, his team could destroy evidence and influence witnesses. The step of his removal will help in ensuring fair investigation.”

Kumar and controversies

Before his services were terminated, Bibhav Kumar had been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi excise policy case . In fact, on 8 April, he was questioned while Kejriwal was in Tihar jail .

Even in February, Kumar was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate on allegations of destroying and concealing of evidence, among other things, in the Delhi excise scam. As per the authorities, the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) of Bibhav’s mobile number allegedly changed four times between September 2021 to July 2022.

Last year in August, Kumar was once again in the limelight when the Public Works Department (PWD) was ordered by the vigilance department to cancel the allotment of a Type-VI bungalow to Kumar.

Authorities had then stated that a Type VI bungalow was allotted to Kumar illegally in violation of Delhi Allotment of Government Residences (General Housing Pool) Rules against Type IV accommodation for which he is eligible.

According to the letter, Kumar was first allotted a Type-V accommodation. “It it is noticed that the Type-V accommodation to Bibhav Kumar is not as per Rule (20) D of Allotment Rules. It is observed by the PWD that as per Allotment Rules… He is entitled only Type-IV accommodation since it is out of turn allotment. Since, he was allotted a bigger quarter i.e. Type-V, a proposal was moved by Secretary, PWD on 18.08.2016 for taking ex-post facto approval of L-G for regularising the allotment of one type above to Kumar,” read the letter.

Kejriwal’s woes

The termination of Kumar is another blow to Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently lodged at Tihar prison in connection to the Delhi liquor excise policy case. While the ED maintains that he is the “kingpin” in the matter, the AAP has maintained that it is a political witch hunt by the BJP ahead of the elections.

On Wednesday, Kejriwal and his party, the AAP, also suffered another blow when Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand resigned from the Cabinet and the party, alleging that it is embroiled in corruption. He further alleged that Dalits were not given representation in the party.

“The Aam Aadmi Party is embroiled in corruption. Given the situation, it has become difficult for me to stay in this party. That is why through your medium I want to convey that I am resigning from this party and my minister’s post,” Anand told reporters while announcing his resignation.

Asked whether he would join any political party, he responded: “I will not go anywhere. In response to a query on the timing of his resignation, he said, “Till yesterday, we were under the impression that we are being framed, but after the High Court verdict, it seems that there is something wrong at our end.”

Moreover, the ED has moved a Delhi court seeking arrest warrant against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in appointments in the Delhi Waqf Board.

With inputs from agencies