New Delhi:
A three-member committee set up by the Delhi government to probe into the alleged irregularities at the Delhi cricket body DDCA does not mention Union finance minister Arun Jaitley in its report.
Flying in the face of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's allegations, a copy of the report, accessed by NDTV, does not list any wrongdoing by Mr Jaitley during his 13-year tenure as the DDCA (Delhi and District Cricket Association) chief.
It is also silent on any financial irregularities during Mr Jaitley's tenure, though it mentions issues related to the reconstruction of Delhi's Firoz Shah Kotla stadium.
Off the record, Mr Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party leaders are now disputing the report, claiming there was no clean chit for Mr Jaitley.
"There are several other documents which indict Mr Jaitley. This is just one report," a senior leader of Aam Aadmi Party said. "Also the report lists several instances of financial bungling and Mr Jaitley as the head of DDCA cannot be absolved."
The committee was not given the mandate to identify "people behind corruption," another leader said. Instead, it was to identify if there was corruption and suggest further action.
The issue came under media glare after the CBI raids against senior Delhi officer Rajender Kumar, when Mr Kejriwal said the raids were meant to seize the inquiry report as it "revealed Mr Jaitley's role in irregularities at the DDCA".
Mr Jaitley - who has already sued by Mr Kejriwal for defamation -- said he came up with the allegations to deflect attentions from the raid. He had also said the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, under the UPA regime had investigated the issue and could not find a shred of evidence.
The probe committee was set up after lawmaker Kirti Azad -- who was later suspended by the BJP -- and former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi approached Mr Kejriwal for a probe into the matter. The investigation focused the alleged inflation of bills on renovation of the stadium.
While pointing to the technical deficiencies in the stadium, the report has also dealt with allegations of fudging in junior cricket, non-payment of cricketers' dues, legal complaints filed by office-bearers against each other.
The report also mentions the alleged round-tripping of money by incumbent president SP Bansal - which Mr Jaitley said had happened after his tenure.