Hazare Questions Centre, Kejriwal After CBI Search

Ralegan Siddhi (Maharashtra), Dec 16 (IANS) Anti-corruption and social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday said the Centre should have taken action earlier over any complaints against Rajendra Kumar, principal secretary to the Delhi chief minister, and Arvind Kejriwal should have checked the officer's background before appointing him.

"This incident (alleged corruption) did not happen during the tenure of Arvind (Kejriwal). The BJP didn't do anything in the past one and a half years (about this case). Action (against Rajendra Kumar) should have been taken, back then," Hazare told reporters at his Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmadnagar district.

He said he had always told Kejriwal to have people with strong character around him.

"From the beginning, Arvind has been fighting against corruption. I have always told him that 'you should have people with strong character around you'. Before appointing someone as principal secretary, he should have checked his background," Hazare said.

The CBI on Tuesday conducted searches at the office of Rajendra Kumar over transactions in his earlier capacities. The Delhi government insists that Kejriwal's office was also searched.