 "AAP, Jaitley trade barbs over alleged cricket body graft")
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had alleged after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid at his principal secretary Rajendra Kumar's office on Tuesday that the investigating agency had seized files on irregularities in the DDCA, which was the real purpose of the raid and that Jaitley was behind the CBI raid.
On Thursday, AAP leaders held a press conference to give details of the probes into the alleged irregularities by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), a DDCA panel and the Delhi government. They also defended bureaucrat Rajendra Kumar. AAP leader Sanjay Singh claimed Kumar has a clean service record of over 27 years, and accused the media of distorting facts.
More From This Section
In a blogpost titled 'Falsehood as Free Speech', Jaitley said the SFIO had investigated the alleged irregularities and had given him a clean chit. Jaitley is unlikely to file a defamation case against the AAP, opting to fight the issue politically. There was a likelihood that the issue could be raised by the Congress MPs in Parliament, but it didn't after many within the Congress didn't want to support an issue that Kejriwal has raised. Jaitley also accused Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of misusing his right to free speech by "speaking only falsehood" and that he was trying to divert attention from the issue of corruption against his top official.
As for AAP's charges on corruption during the time, Jaitley headed the Delhi's cricket body, the DDCA, the finance minister said he was not involved with cricket administration since 2013. In a reference to his party MP Kirti Azad, Jaitley said an MP "has been writing to various governmental bodies with regard to Delhi's cricket affairs" and the UPA government ordered the SFIO to investigate the issue.
| FACE-OFF |
| AAP's attack: DDCA was a den of corruption during 13-year Jaitley tenure Jaitley/DDCA defence: The SFIO probe report of March 21, 2013 said, "there are certain irregularities/non-compliance or technical violations, but no fraud (was) noticed as alleged". Members of the DDCA submitted the fines imposed on them |
AAP's attack: Claims various probes accused Jaitley of giving "direct and indirect" consent to "massive corruption"
Jaitley/DDCA defence: Jaitley said, "SFIO under the UPA investigated and could not find a shred of evidence against me."
AAP's attack: Additional expenditure of Rs 90 crore incurred to renovate Feroze Shah Kotla against the sanctioned Rs 24 crore
Jaitley/DDCA defence: Jaitley said allegation "fake"; a brand new 42,000 -seat world class stadium was constructed by the EPIL, a public sector body at a total cost of around Rs 114 crore; compared to this and at the same time, the UPA Government renovated two stadiums - Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium was renovated at Rs 900 crore and Dhyan Chand stadium at Rs 600 crore
AAP's attack: A Delhi govt probe said fake companies set up by office-bearers to siphon money through round tripping, payments were made to five companies whose registered addresses were same and headed by same director
Jaitley/DDCA defence: DDCA's Chetan Chauhan said the government has no locus standi to investigate the DDCA issue
AAP's attack: Statutory auditor of DDCA facing prosecution for fudging accounts
Jaitley/DDCA defence: Nothing to do with Jaitley
AAP's attack: A probe into DDCA headed by bureaucrat Chetan Sanghi; Sanghi later threatened by a joint secretary in MHA
Jaitley/DDCA defence: Chauhan said: "They told us please come and discuss. They have no powers to ask us questions as we are Section 25 company and come under Company Affairs Ministry."
AAP's attack: DDCA internal probe report: "The magnitude and extent of improprieties, irregularities and misconduct committed by various officials were of gigantic proportions"
Jaitley/DDCA defence: Internal report, not by any investigating agency
AAP's attack: 10 corporate boxes at Ferozeshah Kotla were given out on lease to companies flouting rules
Jaitley/DDCA defence: To raise money, 43 boxes of 30 seats each constructed; each seat leased at Rs 1 lakh for 10 years to raise Rs 12-13 crore; Boxes also leased to a PSU and a private company to raise Rs 35 crore
AAP's attack: "There were instances of proxy litigations to mint money. Only wards of political leaders and the rich can hope to play for Delhi due to nepotism."
Jaitley/DDCA defence: Jaitley said he has countered "unsubstantiated, non-specific allegations", but not those that relate to post-2013. "I have left cricket administration in 2013. By referring to some facts of 2014 and 2015, he (Kejriwal) can't drag me in."