After accepting the Delhi government’s offer to head the Commission of Inquiry probing alleged irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), senior advocate Gopal Subramanium has written to National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, asking him to “step in and offer suitably qualified officers who will also be morally endowed to assist the commission.” In a letter dated December 28, Subramanium wrote, “I would like to assure that as you would have seen from various professional opinions which I have rendered to the government of India, including the IB. I tried to the best of my ability to be objective. But, obviously in a commission of inquiry it is necessary for me to have the advantage of outstanding members of the investigative force and you would be in the best position to know so many of them.” Subramanium wrote that he had suggested to Justice S P Wadhwa — chairman of the commission of inquiry that probed the murder of Australian Christian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in 1999 — to summon from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) or the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) five dossiers on officers of the Delhi police, the IB and the CBI so that the commission would have the opportunity to select the best officials. Subramanium said he had no doubt that the central government, which had persuaded the Delhi government to undertake a proper inquiry into alleged irregularities in the DDCA, will render “suitable assistance” to the commission. In another letter written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the issue, Subramanium stated, “I think it is only fair that I must have men of character, loyalty, integrity, dispassion, independence and impartiality. Such officers in the Indian Police Service are not difficult to find. I am sure Mr Doval will honour my request.” He also asked Kejriwal to recommend five outstanding officers from the Anti-Corruption Branch. Meanwhile, the AAP government, which had set up the commission following a Cabinet decision and a resolution passed by the Delhi Assembly, said the Lt Governor’s approval was not required for constituting the commission. Kejriwal tweeted Tuesday, “Is it true that the MHA has sent DDCA file to PM to decide whether to declare Inquiry Commission illegal. What will PM do — declare it illegal or allow enquiry? Though it will hv no impact on ongoing enquiry comm.”
