New Delhi:
Former Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam, who will investigate the alleged financial irregularities in the Delhi cricket body, has told NDTV that he is ready to question Union minister Arun Jaitley if there is a need. He, however, added that he is not here to "go after any one person", bears the NDA government no grudge for not getting the post of the Chief Justice of India and that his inquiry will be "open to public".
"I am too seasoned to not detach myself from the past," he said.
Mr Subramaniam's response came as the DDCA row rocked Parliament and Union minister Arun Jaitley -- the cricket body's chief of 13 years whom Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party has accused of corruption - filed defamation cases against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and a few others.
"There is no contradiction between Arun Jaitley's defamation against Kejriwal and my inquiry. Both can proceed," Mr Subramaniam told NDTV. "My mission is cricket, I will play with a straight bat... If I need to question Arun Jaitley I will."
Supporters of the BJP have questioned Mr Subramaniam's appointment, alleging he cannot be objective about the probe since he bears the NDA government a grudge since he withdrew his candidature for Supreme Court judge.
"I have disclosed publicly that Jaitley is a good friend... I hold no grudges that NDA didn't make me judge," Mr Subramaniam told NDTV. "The inquiry will be open to everyone and can be taped."
In June 2014, Mr Subramaniam -- one of the four lawyers nominated for the post of the Supreme Court judge -- had bowed out of the race alleging a "dirt digging exercise" by the NDA government.
The law minister, he reportedly told the Chief Justice of India, had initiated an inquiry "with a clear mandate to describe me as unsuitable". He had also said he had felt "let down" by the government.
Mr Subramaniam, however, clarified that he can start work only after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung signs the order. But given the recent conflict between the Arvind Kejriwal government and the Lieutenant Governor, it remains a crucial question.
On Sunday, the Delhi government had announced that the allegations of irregularities will be investigated and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted that Mr Subramaniam will head the commission. Mr Kejriwal's AAP has insisted that Mr Jaitley resign or be removed to clear the decks for an investigation.
"I am too seasoned to not detach myself from the past," he said.
Mr Subramaniam's response came as the DDCA row rocked Parliament and Union minister Arun Jaitley -- the cricket body's chief of 13 years whom Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party has accused of corruption - filed defamation cases against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and a few others.
"There is no contradiction between Arun Jaitley's defamation against Kejriwal and my inquiry. Both can proceed," Mr Subramaniam told NDTV. "My mission is cricket, I will play with a straight bat... If I need to question Arun Jaitley I will."
Supporters of the BJP have questioned Mr Subramaniam's appointment, alleging he cannot be objective about the probe since he bears the NDA government a grudge since he withdrew his candidature for Supreme Court judge.
"I have disclosed publicly that Jaitley is a good friend... I hold no grudges that NDA didn't make me judge," Mr Subramaniam told NDTV. "The inquiry will be open to everyone and can be taped."
In June 2014, Mr Subramaniam -- one of the four lawyers nominated for the post of the Supreme Court judge -- had bowed out of the race alleging a "dirt digging exercise" by the NDA government.
The law minister, he reportedly told the Chief Justice of India, had initiated an inquiry "with a clear mandate to describe me as unsuitable". He had also said he had felt "let down" by the government.
Mr Subramaniam, however, clarified that he can start work only after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung signs the order. But given the recent conflict between the Arvind Kejriwal government and the Lieutenant Governor, it remains a crucial question.
On Sunday, the Delhi government had announced that the allegations of irregularities will be investigated and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted that Mr Subramaniam will head the commission. Mr Kejriwal's AAP has insisted that Mr Jaitley resign or be removed to clear the decks for an investigation.
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