No end to war of words

New Delhi: Finance minister Arun Jaitley said the DDCA case was “a part of propaganda technique to deflect attention when you yourself are in the dock” and accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of focusing attention on him after he acted as a shield to cover an officer under investigation.

“I have left cricket administration in 2013. By referring to some facts of 2014 and 2015, he can’t drag me in,” he said, terming the allegations against him as unsubstantiated and non-specific.

He said the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, that was entrusted with the investigations in the case by the UPA government, has clearly stated “no fraud (was) noticed as alleged” and his role as DDCA president was “like a non-executive chairman without involvement in day-to-day affairs of the company”.

Earlier, at a press conference, the AAP alleged that huge financial bungling in the DDCA during Mr Jaitley’s 13-year tenure as its chief, saying large amounts had been siphoned off through fake companies, besides other irregularities, including in team selection.

The AAP, quoting from the reports of the SFIO, the DDCA’s internal probe committee and a Delhi government-appo-inted inquiry panel, accused Mr Jaitley of giving “direct and indirect” consent to “massive corruption” in the cricket body.

“The bunglings had happened under the direct or indirect consent of Arun Jaitley during his tenure as DDCA chief. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must ask Jaitley to resign to ensure a fair probe as some of the competent agencies to investigate them are under the finance ministry,” said AAP spokesman Raghav Chadha, flanked by a number of other leaders.

Amidst the Congress’ attack on Mr Jaitley, party leader Digvijay Singh said a JPC should go into the matter and former cricketer and BJP MP Kirti Azad should head it.