Delhi govt sets up panel to probe DDCA irregularities

The Delhi government has decided to form a commission of inquiry to be chaired by former solicitor general Gopal Subramanium to probe the affairs of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

“The Union sports ministry had written to the Delhi government in July requesting a probe. Some former cricketers had also approached chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and apprised him of the irregularities following the missive from the ministry. The report of the three-member committee formed by the government in November had also advised a further probe as sports is a state subject,” a government spokesperson said. The Delhi CM tweeted later in the day that Subramanium had agreed to lead the commission. Sources said the former solicitor general had given his consent to take up the probe for a fee of ` 1.Subramanium has represented the AAP government in the past and a government spokesperson refused to comment on the ethical aspect of handing him the probe. “In his letter to the CM, the senior lawyer mentioned that he would accept the assignment on the understanding that the purpose of the commission is positive in content and the government should be benefited to take forward cricket to better and higher levels. He has also mentioned that finance minister Arun Jaitley, whose name has figured in the news, has been a valued and distinguished colleague for almost 37 years,” the source added.

Earlier, deputy CM Manish Sisodia alleged that the CBI was pressuring principal secretary Rajendra Kumar during interrogation to reveal the names of DDCA officials who met Kejriwal and brought to the notice of the AAP government the alleged irregularities in the cricket body. Speaking to reporters, Sisodia said the line of questioning proved that Kejriwal was the real target of the CBI raid. Meanwhile, defending Jaitley, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “We are proud of the impeccable qualities of honesty, integrity and credibility of Arun Jaitley”.