Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal has sent a two-page file noting to the lt Governor for allegedly trying to pressurise the Home Minister.
In yet another round of confrontation between Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor, the Aam Aadmi Party government yesterday accused Najeeb Jung of "pressurising" home minister Satyendar Jain to grant parole to Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Om Prakash Chautala, serving a decade-long jail term in teachers' recruitment scam case.
Reacting to the accusation of Kejriwal government, the Lt Governor's secretariat had said "Lt Governor rejected parole prayer of Mr Chautala on October 5 as there should be a gap of minimum six months from the date of termination of last parole."
The Lt Governor's office also said no further application for parole from former Haryana Chief Minister has been received at the Lt Governor's Secretariat.
A senior government official alleged that Mr Jung recently had summoned Mr Jain and allegedly "pressurised" him to expedite Mr Chautala's parole plea or grant him permission to be shifted to a Punjab jail.
The chief minister has sent a two-page file noting on Mr Chautala's file expressing displeasure over Lt Governor's alleged pressure on his minister and said he strongly oppose parole to the former Haryana chief minister.
"The CM has sought a list of other convicts from the Home Department, who were similarly placed, given parole earlier," an official said.
In his file noting to Mr Jung, the chief minister asked Lt Governor when the judge did not show any leniency on age, why is he showing?
"LG says the convict has been national president of a political party for five years. Everyone is equal before law," Mr Kejriwal said.
Refuting government's allegations, Lt Governor's Secretariat said, "Om Prakash Chautala had requested for parole for medical treatment. The Principal Secretary (Home) and Minister (Home), did not recommend the parole on the ground that convict had last availed one month parole w.e.f. April 4, 2015 to May 5, 2015 and further extended upto May 28, 2015 and he surrendered on June 3, 2015."
It is further clarified, that based on the facts on file submitted by the Home Department, the right to grant or reject parole lies with the Administrator, which is the Lt. Governor of Delhi, it also added.