CM: Government has power to set up panel

Kejriwal says Centre can move court against DDCA probe

Attacking the Centre on the alleged DDCA irregularities, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that if the Centre has any problem with the appointment of inquiry commission, it should go to court and reiterated that the AAP government will not step back from its decision.

“We will not back off our decision. If the MHA has any problem with the Delhi government’s notification to appoint a commission of inquiry to probe the alleged irregularities in DDCA, it may approach the high court,” the Delhi chief minister said.

Mr Kejriwal said that an elected government of Delhi has the power to constitute a commission of inquiry and the Centre can not declare the probe panel “null and void”.

Mr Kejriwal’s remark comes a few days after lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung sought the Centre’s intervention, questioning the legality of appointment of inquiry panel.

“In a communication to the ministry of home affairs, the L-G has stated that the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952, empowers only the Centre and state governments to appoint a commission of inquiry. Since Delhi is a Union Territory, a commission of inquiry may be ordered only with the concurrence of the Centre, through the L-G,” sources had said.

Earlier, Mr Kejriwal claimed that action amounts to “unjustified interference” as the inquiry is “perfectly” legal and Union minister Arun Jaitley should cooperate with the inquiry commission and stop “misusing” the L-G office.

“We are not scared when all the agencies under them, including the police, CBI, DRI are after us, why are they scared with one commission of enquiry ” he had said.

The Delhi government had earlier this week appointed a commission of inquiry, headed by former solicitor-general Gopal Subramanium, to probe alleged corruption in Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) between 1992 and 2015, and asked it to submit its report within three months.

The government had said that the one-member commission of inquiry will identify any acts of omission and commission by the DDCA and its office bearers during the period between January 1, 1992, and November 30, 2015, and fix responsibility.