Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday yet again tried to clarify his stand on O.P. Chautala’s parole application and rubbished allegations of “pressurising” the Delhi Home Minister to let the former Haryana Chief Minister out on parole.
Instead, Mr. Jung levelled charges against the AAP dispensation saying he was asked by Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain to clear AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in 24 criminal cases pending against them.
At an especially-convened press conference on Friday, Mr. Jung said Mr. Jain had called on him on October 21 without specifying the purpose. During the meeting, Mr. Jain had allegedly insisted that Mr. Kejriwal and other senior AAP leaders will face humiliation over appearance in Courts therefore, the pending files — which Mr. Jain had taken to the L-G Office on September 11 — should be cleared by the L-G. Mr. Jain also expressed his desire to take back the files personally.
“He asked for clearing the files by withdrawing 24 cases which are pending in various courts. The Minister insisted that the file should be cleared today [October 21] itself and he would like to take them back personally,” Mr. Jung stated.
The L-G added Mr. Jain was informed that all cases pertained to serious allegations including rioting, deterring public servants from duty, criminal assault and damage to public property, and hence could not be treated as routine cases. He further said that Mr. Jain was categorically informed cases of withdrawal are considered on merit and the file containing this request was being scrutinised by the L-G Office as per law, Mr. Jung said.
“It is obvious that the Home Minister has tried to make political capital out of this reference and used the occasion to vent out angst at his unsuccessful attempt to push through the withdrawal of cases against AAP leaders,” Mr. Jung said.
Clearing air on Chautala’s parole issue, Mr. Jung said a fresh file was received from the Office of the Chief Minister on the subject of Chautala’s parole on the evening of October 28 and claimed that he had come to know about it ‘informally’ and had mentioned it during a meeting with the Home Minister on October 21.
“This file contained notes from Chief Minister and Home Minister alleging that the L-G had pressurised the Home Minister to consider the parole to Chautala,” an official statement from Raj Niwas said.
On Wednesday, Mr. Jung’s office had issued a statement saying Chautala’s parole was rejected citing lacunae in the application, as there has to be six months gap between each application and no new parole application was received.
Aam Admi Party has alleged that the L-G has pressurised Mr. Jain and was showing interest in Chautala’s parole application. Rubbishing the claims, Mr. Jung said he had rejected Chautala’s parole plea on October 5. However, a fresh parole application was received by the Home Department on October 9 and was pending with the Home Minister till October 23.
“It was brought to the notice of the Home Minister that the parole case of Chautala was pending with the Home Department and should be processed on merit without political considerations….Courts take serious note of pending applications as it is considered infringement on the rights of the convicts….Delay in processing the file by the Home Department is not reasonable as the convict is 84 years old and had medical history,” a statement by LG office said.
Justifying his claims, L-G said that he even rejected Chautala’s son Ajay’s parole application on May 6 and later on October 26.
“The present file related to parole of Chautala has now been received. The same shall be considered on merit and as per the law of the land. Under the law, L-G is the competent authority for taking final decision on accepting or rejecting parole applications.”
