After serving the income-tax department for around 22 years, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita has taken voluntary retirement from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS).

After serving the income-tax department for around 22 years, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita has taken voluntary retirement from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). The official order said that her VRS will be effective from July 15.

Although sources said that the Union government employee took the step as she feared victimisation due to ongoing tussle between the Centre and the AAP government, it is being speculated that she could be fielded as the AAP’s chief ministerial candidate in Punjab.

Ms Kejriwal, last posted as commissioner of I-T in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in Delhi, had sought VRS earlier this year and an official order has now been issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the cadre controlling authority of the department, officials said.

“She will be able to enjoy her pension benefits as she has served over 20 years in service,” a senior official said.

However, sources close to the Delhi chief minister said, “Sunita feared victimisation by the Centre amid the ongoing tussle between the AAP government and the BJP-led Union government on several issues and, hence, she sought VRS.”

Fifty one-year-old Sunita, a 1993-batch IRS officer, had met Mr Kejriwal, a 1995-batch IRS officer, during a training programme at Bhopal after which they decided to get married. As per the records, she holds a masters’ degree in zoology.

When Mr Kejriwal contested against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi during 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Sunita had taken a long leave from office.

“She knew her service compulsions, so could not campaign openly for him. But as a wife, she took charge of the kitchen and fed party supporters,” a close aide of Mr Kejriwal said.