Delhi government's DDCA probe panel 'unconstitutional': Centre

New Delhi, Jan 8  The union home ministry has declared as "unconstitutional and illegal" the probe panel appointed by the Delhi government to investigate alleged corruption in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

The probe panel is headed by former solicitor general Gopal Subramanium.

Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, who represents the home ministry in Delhi, in a notification to the city government on Thursday said: "The elected government of national capital territory of Delhi (NCT) is neither the central government nor the state government, therefore it has no power to appoint such a panel."

The home ministry has accordingly held that the notification issued by the Directorate of Vigilance of the Delhi government "is unconstitutional, illegal and therefore has no legal effect", said a letter issued by the Lt. Governor's Office that became public on Friday.

"The council of ministers may please be apprised accordingly and all concerned be advised to act in conformity with the decision of the MHA," the letter added. 

The Delhi Cabinet on December 21 decided to set up a Commission of Inquiry under Gopal Subramanium to probe alleged irregularities in the DDCA.

Subramanium on December 28 assured Kejriwal of a "clean" investigation into the affairs of Delhi's cricket association. He later requested National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for officers who would make up his investigating team.