NEW DELHI: AAP today slammed BJP for giving a "clean chit" to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) irregularities case and asked how he could plead innocence when there was an ongoing CBI inquiry in the case.
The party said even though BJP gave clean chit to Jaitley citing the Delhi government inquiry report on the affairs of the cricket body, the same report recommended formation of a panel to probe alleged irregularities.
Citing a High Court order and a letter of acceptance from former Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium to head a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) notwithstanding Lt Governor Najeeb Jung's reservations over it, AAP also said the Centre should now allow a probe in DDCA as it "contradicts its own stand".
"Mr Jaitley, there is an ongoing CBI inquiry in the DDCA scam. You were DDCA president for 14 years and this scam took place when you were at the helm of affairs of DDCA. How can you claim to have been given a clean chit, when the PE (Preliminary Enquiry) is conducted by the CBI?
"It's amazing that BJP spokespersons are manufacturing clean chits for Jaitley even when the SFIO (Serious Fraud Investigations Office), two-judge committee appointed by the court, Fact Finding Committee of the DDCA have found massive scam in the dealings of the DDCA. If there is nothing to hide, why doesn't Jaitely face the probe and cooperate with the CoIset up by the Delhi Government?" Ashutosh asked.
The AAP leader claimed that High Court, which is looking into the legality of the CoI formed by Delhi government, has not prohibited it from forming another inquiry Commission.
"The Delhi High Court, in its order dated September 23, had refused to stay the proceedings of CoI in the CNG fitness scam. Thus it's beyond the jurisdiction of the Union government and it should not interfere in the functioning of the Commission of Inquiry in the DDCA scam," Ashutosh claimed.
He was referring to the on-going case before the Delhi High Court where the Centre and city-government is locked in turf battle to decide on the legality of CoI. A few days back Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had sought Centre's intervention, questioning the legality of appointment of inquiry panel.
The party claimed that the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs had asked the Delhi government to probe the alleged irregularities in DDCA and by "scuttling" the probe, it will only "contradict its order".