The anti-corruption helpline in Delhi has fallen victim to the unrelenting power tussle between Delhi Government and the Centre. In a fresh twist to the face-off, Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) chief MK Meena scrapped the helpline '1031' on Thursday, prompting the Arvind Kejriwal-led government to threaten taking 'action' against him.

The AAP government which has been unable to replace Centre appointed ACB chief Meena with its hand-picked officer SS Yadav, claimed the helpline number was still functional. A government, through a strong-worded statement, said Meena's act of a sheer case of impersonation and the government would initiate action against him.

The development assumes significance as the two governments had ascended to power on the anti-corruption plank but the ACB has been lying defunct for the last two months due to the ongoing power tussle. The Delhi Government has refused to recognise Meena as chief of ACB. It may be noted that after AAP's election victory this February, CM Arvind Kejriwal had relaunched the anti-corruption helpline number 1031 at Talkatora Stadium with great fanfare.

After scrapping the 1031 helpline, Delhi ACB issued fresh numbers - 011-23812905, 011-23812906 as the new anti-corruption helpline numbers. Meena confirmed the development saying that for the past one month no calls were being received on Anti Corruption helpline no 1031 issued by Delhi government.

"People were calling but calls were not directed to our office. (So we) have decided to issue new helpline numbers which will be received by our office. The ACB is a notified police station and nobody has a right to spread indiscipline here. This is a conspiracy to collapse ACB."

The Delhi government, however, came down hard on ACB's directive and issued a statement quashing the order, thereby refusing to accept Meena as Delhi's ACB chief. "The Government of Delhi puts on record that Mukesh Kumar Meena is not the ACB Chief. He is just assigned to look after the work of training and monitoring of undertrial cases at ACB. SS Yadav is the Chief of ACB. Any decision regarding the ACB as its Chief is to be taken by Yadav only," the government statement said.

The government statement said Meena's statement on helpline is sheer case of impersonation and the Delhi Government will take action for the same against him. It also alleged that Meena's posting with the ACB was illegal and an attempt at the behest of MP Narendra Modi to scuttle the anti-corruption drive of Delhi Government. "Anti-corruption helpline 1031 stands as helpline for all anti-corruption complaints. No other helpline is working for this purpose," it read.