GK Pillai dares P Chidambaram on Ishrat Jahan issue

New Delhi: In a move that could put the former UPA government in a tight corner, former Union home secretary G.K. Pillai on Thursday “dared” former home minister P. Chidambaram to come out openly and deny he had “suo motu dictated the draft second affidavit in his own office” on the Ishrat Jahan issue. Mr Chidambaram had put the onus on Mr Pillai, saying it were the officials, including Mr Pillai, who had prepared the draft put up before him and were “equally responsible”.

Taking Mr Chidambaram head on, the former bureaucrat, in an exclusive interview, said he was willing to face court scrutiny or an inquiry initiated by the NDA on the issue. In another disclosure, Mr Pillai said Mr Chidambaram not only modified the affidavit, but also “browbeat” the then home ministry and IB officials who tried to  stand by the first affidavit before omitting the reference of a LeT link to the case.