New standoff over DDCA: Centre calls probe illegal, Kejriwal says it will go on

DDCA enquiry commission set up by Del Govt is as per law n constitution of India. Centre’s opinion not binding on Del govt(1/2)

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 8, 2016

Commission will continue work. If LG or MHA or PMO aggrieved, they may approach Court. Only a court order can stop commission’s work(2/2)

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 8, 2016

Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal asked the Lt Governor, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office to approach the judiciary in case they feel “aggrieved” since “only a court order can stop commission’s work”.

Earlier, an official of the Ministry of Home Affairs said: “Only the Centre or a state government can constitute a commission of inquiry. Since Delhi is not a full state, it has no power to constitute a commission of inquiry. Therefore, the commission of inquiry set up by the Delhi government is null and void. We have communicated this to the Lt Governor.”

Read Also: Inquiry into DDCA affairs illegal, says Centre

The Centre’s rejection of Delhi’s decision to probe DDCA affairs comes at a time when they have been trading charges over a CBI raid at the Delhi Secretariat office of the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister last month.

Kejriwal alleged that the raid was meant to seize files purportedly containing details of alleged corruption in the DDCA. His government appointed a Commission of Inquiry headed by former Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium.

Jaitley has rejected the AAP allegations and filed criminal and civil defamation cases against Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders.

On Friday, the AAP rejected the Centre’s communication. “We had apprehended this… The move of the Central government to oppose free and fair inquiry… further proves the apprehension,” AAP leader Ashutosh told reporters.

“The institution of a commission of inquiry is not new to Delhi and several preceding governments, including the Sheila Dikshit government, have done it. It is the right of the Delhi government to do so. The unprecedented opposition of the Central government is clear evidence of the fact that someone is being protected,” he said.