Noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani today said he will defend Arvind Kejriwal in the defamation case slapped on him by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley without taking any fee if the Delhi Chief Minister cannot afford to pay him.
Jethmalani also hit out at Jaitley alleging that the row over the Delhi government's move to clear his bills for fighting the case has been "instigated" by the Union Finance Minister.
On its part, the AAP alleged that Jaitley was paid large retainership fee for defending a private firm when it was mired in the 2G scam.
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The party also sought to defend the government's move to pay Jethmalani from the public exchequer, saying the "penniless" AAP and Kejriwal cannot "afford" expensive lawyers.
Jethmalani said it is the government's duty to defend the chief minister.
"I will certainly defend him even if he can't pay, but he said 'no, I want to pay, send us the bills', so I have sent the bills. Even if the government does not support him, I will.
"If necessary, I will support him for his livelihood because he is a clean force compared to Arun Jaitley," said Jethmalani.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had directed the General Administration Department to clear the bills of Jethmalani. It is learnt that Lt Governor Anil Baijal has sought Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar's advice in doing so.
The bills totalled around Rs 3.4 crore.
"If he is unable to pay I will do it for free. I render free services to 90 per cent of my clients," Jethmalani said.
Sisodia said this is not a personal legal battle of Kejriwal and the case is a follow-up of a probe ordered by the Delhi government to clean up corruption in cricket administration in the city.
"The government will fight the case," he told reporters.
In a series of tweets, AAP leader Ashish Khetan, a former journalist, said Jaitley is a "rich man" so he can afford expensive lawyers.
"Dear @narendramodi Sir, @ArvindKejriwal & @AamAadmiParty are pennyless. Your FM is a rich man, he can afford expensive advocates. We can't.
"@narendramodi ji, your FM has made his money defending big ppl involved in big scams. @ArvindKejriwal all his life has defended the poor (sic)," he tweeted.
Khaitan further said, "What is most important that large retainership fee was paid to @arunjaitley at a time when Anil Ambani & his companies were mired in 2G scam.
(REOPENS DEL 14)
Jethmalani alleged the whole episode was "instigated by Arun Jaitley who is afraid of my cross-examination".
The noted lawyer said though he charges from rich clients, majority of his clients are poor.
"I work for them free of cost," he said.
"Everybody knows my normal daily fee is Rs 22.2 lakh or more, perhaps the retainer plus conference charges. You can enquire from anybody. But for 90 per cent of my clients, I do free work," he said.
"I have done free work in a case related to BJP too, and the BJP could pay. The case was of BJP elected members set aside by the Bombay High Court...They pleaded Hindutva, and I fought the case for free in the Supreme Court.
"And, it was a landmark judgement by the court, when I proved to it that Hindutva is not the name of religion," he said.
He asserted that he has "not received" any money from the Delhi government and expressed his displeasure to media persons for being questioned over the issue.
"It is between the CM and the government. Why are you seeking my opinion? I have not asked him to raise the money for the government. But, if the government, wants to support the CM... It is for the people to object if they do not want to pay it," he said.
