In his first interview since assuming charge, Surender Singh Yadav, a 1997-batch IPS officer credited with effectively tackling insurgency in the Northeast before being hand-picked by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to head the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) as its additional commissioner, speaks to Jatin Anand on his tumultuous maiden year in office:
How would you summarise your experience of confronting graft within
the Delhi government?
It would be wrong to say that corruption did not exist in the government and its various departments when I took over or that it does not exist now a year later – but there are marked changes...I've experienced tremendous faith shown by the citizens of Delhi, which they continue to exhibit, in the ACB what with between 1,500 to 2,000 calls logged on the anti-corruption helpline 1031 on a daily basis.
At least one fresh FIR is filed every week and more people have been arrested for corruption in just four months than in the last five years.
Investigation in the CNG fitness scam is on track -- the first chargesheet in the case has already been filed – in addition to others...several systemic changes in the ACB per se also took place and more are in the pipeline.
What are these systemic changes?
The Delhi government gave in-principle approval for significant increases in the sanctioned strength of personnel as well as vehicles at my suggestion.
While details about the increase in manpower are already well documented, let me tell you that efforts are underway to push the number of four wheelers from just five to as many as 25 and two-wheelers from none to as many as 20 so that anti-graft officials can have a physical presence across government installations in Delhi not to mention more autonomy for the chief of the ACB.
Didn't the political tug-of-war over the ACB between the Delhi government and the Centre – especially the BJP government's alleged interference in the affairs of your unit – affect your performance?
I would like to refrain from commenting on the dispute between the Delhi government and the Centre since the matter is sub-judice but, that being said, there is tremendous support that I, as an official appointed to confront graft, received from everyone starting from the general public to the Prime Minister. The past year was a blessing for any government official appointed to fight corruption in Delhi, which had both a Prime Minister who gave the slogan “na khaunga na khaane doonga”, to a Chief Minister whose anti-graft credentials are legendary. I am a true believer in the vision of both.
Didn't interference by the Centre render the autonomy you sought utterly useless? What if matters hadn't come to such a pass?
I would just reiterate that I am a believer in the vision of both governments which have clear-cut directions to show no mercy to the corrupt no matter who they happen to be. If matter hadn't come to such a pass, suffice it to say, give me eight months to a year and I can finish off corruption from the Delhi government.
Let me put it differently for the sake of clarity: what is your take on the appointment of a certain joint commissioner of police as your boss in an arbitrary manner by the Centre?
Again, the matter is sub-judice so I cannot comment on it...he is a senior officer and I am his subordinate; he has his role and I have mine both of which are well-defined by the Constitution of India in addition to the Central and State governments which we, in our respective capacities, serve as officials of the AGMUT cadre.
Are you two on different sides of a cold war with no communication whatsoever?
We have a formal working relationship and of course we communicate even if it is mostly on paper; like I said earlier: we both have our respective roles and laws that govern our conduct which must be, and are, followed.
