AAP accuses Centre of trying to 'save' Jaitley from DDCA probe

The AAP has been accusing Arun Jaitley of wrongdoings during his tenure as DDCA chief.

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday claimed that the Centre wanted to "save" Finance Minister Arun Jaitley by declaring as illegal the Delhi Government ordered inquiry into alleged DDCA scam and was trying to ensure his "role" during his tenure as head of the cricket body was not exposed.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led party also contended that the Centre's action was "legally wrong" as when the Delhi Government had appointed a commission of inquiry to probe the CNG fitness scam, the court had refused to stay the probe and only asked it not to take any coercive action.

"The step taken by the BJP government is aimed at saving Arun Jaitley and just to make sure that his role in DDCA scam does not get exposed. Despite such attempt, they would not be able to save Jaitley," AAP leader Ashutosh said at a press conference.

The Centre has declared as "unconstitutional and illegal" the constitution of Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) by the AAP government, in the continuing battle between the two governments.

The AAP government last month had appointed former solicitor general Gopal Subramanium to probe alleged irregularities in the DDCA which was headed by Jaitley from 2000 to 2013. The Commission of Inquiry was set up following a resolution passed by the Delhi Assembly.

"It has been proved that the Modi government has no intention to probe any irregularities in DDCA and the Centre's move is legally and politically wrong. The letter sent by the Centre to the Delhi government is sort of a love letter which we have got used to," said Ashutosh.

He said, "In the CNG fitness scam also, we had set up an inquiry commission. The court did not quash it. It said that the government should not resort to coercive measures but it did not quash the inquiry panel so the Centre's move also makes it clear that they do not have any respect for judiciary."

The AAP has been accusing Jaitley of wrongdoings during his tenure as DDCA chief. The Union Finance Minister had rubbished the allegations and filed criminal and civil defamation cases in a city court against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders for making "baseless allegations".

Kirti Azad, a BJP parliamentarian, has been suspended by the party for training guns on Jaitley over the DDCA affairs.

"They would not be able to save Jaitley. The truth will surely come out and Gopal Subramanium had offered the trial to be publicly televised. So why they are running away," Ashutosh said.

He said Delhi Government will decide on next course of action on the probe into the DDCA affairs.