Probe into DDCA will continue, says Kejriwal

Setting up yet another confrontation with the Centre, a defiant Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the commission of inquiry constituted by Delhi government will continue its probe into alleged irregularities into the DDCA affairs even after it was declared illegal by the home ministry.

He said the commission has been appointed in accordance with law and the Constitution and asked the lieutenant governor, ministry of home affairs and the prime minister's office to approach the judiciary in case they are "aggrieved" with the panel that was formed through a notification on December 22 last year.

"DDCA enquiry commission set up by Delhi Govt is as per law and constitution of India. Centre's opinion not binding on Del govt. Commission will continue work. If LG or MHA or PMO aggrieved, they may approach Court. Only a court order can stop commission's work," Kejriwal, who is in Kolkata, said in a series of tweets.

Earlier, the Centre had declared as "unconstitutional and illegal" the setting up of commission of inquiry into the DDCA affairs by the Aam Aadmi Party dispensation.

The AAP, in separate reaction, claimed the Centre wanted to "save" Finance Minister Arun Jaitley by declaring as illegal the commission of inquiry, saying it and was trying to ensure his "role" during his tenure as head of the cricket body was not exposed.

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.

The party 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 Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders for making "baseless allegations".