"I initiated a probe into it. Then the BJP filed a case against me. We hired top lawyer Jethmalani. They ask why should the government pay? Should I pay from my pocket? They want to weaken our fight against corruption," Kejriwal said.
Breaking his silence on the controversy over his move to pay lawyer Ram Jethmalani from the public exchequer for defending in a defamation case, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday asked why should the government pay.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who had directed the General Administration Department to clear the bills due to Jethmalani, said the issue has been raked up to divert the attention from the EVM controversy.
Jethmalani has not been paid yet and the matter is pending with Lt Governor Anil Baijal. The bills totalled around Rs 3.4 crore. Kejriwal made the remarks addressing a rally in north-east Delhi's Seemapuri constituency. He said the controversy was created to "weaken" the AAP government's fight against corruption.
"Who plays cricket here?" he asked pointing towards the crowd. "In Delhi there was massive corruption in cricket. You must have heard of DDCA. It was heavily corrupt. Youngsters used to come to me and complain that money is sought for selection."
"I initiated a probe into it. Then the BJP filed a case against me. We hired top lawyer Ram Jethmalani. They ask why should the government pay? Should I pay from my pocket? They want to weaken our fight against corruption," Kejriwal said.
Meanwhile, Sisodia, speaking to reporters outside his residence, said the defamation case against Kejriwal was filed as he had launched a probe into "corruption" prevalent in the Delhi and District Cricket Administration (DDCA).
"When they challenged something which was being probed by the government then the lawyers bill has to be paid by the government. It was not Arvind Kejriwal's personal case. Sisodia also raised question over the timing of the issue being raked up. "The case has been on for the last one and a half years. But why is it being talked about now? Because they have found themselves in a spot over the EVM controversy," he said.
'Penniless' AAP and Kejriwal cannot 'afford' expensive lawyers
Noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani said he will defend Arvind Kejriwal in the defamation case slapped on him by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley without taking any fee if the Delhi Chief Minister cannot afford to pay him. Jethmalani also hit out at Jaitley alleging that the row over the Delhi government's move to clear his bills for fighting the case has been "instigated" by the Union Finance Minister.
On its part, the AAP alleged that Jaitley was paid large retainership fee for defending a private firm when it was mired in the 2G scam. The party also sought to defend the government's move to pay Jethmalani from the public exchequer, saying the "penniless" AAP and Kejriwal cannot "afford" expensive lawyers.
Jethmalani said it is the government's duty to defend the chief minister. "I will certainly defend him even if he can't pay, but he said 'no, I want to pay, send us the bills', so I have sent the bills. Even if the government does not support him, I will.
"If necessary, I will support him for his livelihood because he is a clean force compared to Arun Jaitley," said Jethmalani. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had directed the General Administration Department to clear the bills of Jethmalani. It is learnt that Lt Governor Anil Baijal has sought Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar's advice in doing so.
The bills totalled around Rs 3.4 crore.
"If he is unable to pay I will do it for free. I render free services to 90 per cent of my clients," Jethmalani said. Sisodia said this is not a personal legal battle of Kejriwal and the case is a follow-up of a probe ordered by the Delhi government to clean up corruption in cricket administration in the city.
"The government will fight the case," he told reporters. In a series of tweets, AAP leader Ashish Khetan, a former journalist, said Jaitley is a "rich man" so he can afford expensive lawyers. "Dear @narendramodi Sir, @ArvindKejriwal & @AamAadmiParty are pennyless. Your FM is a rich man, he can afford expensive advocates. We can't. "@narendramodi ji, your FM has made his money defending big ppl involved in big scams. @ArvindKejriwal all his life has defended the poor (sic)," he tweeted.
Khaitan further said, "What is most important that large retainership fee was paid to @arunjaitley at a time when Anil Ambani & his companies were mired in 2G scam."
Jethmalani alleged the whole episode was "instigated by Arun Jaitley who is afraid of my cross-examination". The noted lawyer said though he charges from rich clients, majority of his clients are poor.
"I work for them free of cost," he said. "Everybody knows my normal daily fee is Rs 22.2 lakh or more, perhaps the retainer plus conference charges. You can enquire from anybody. But for 90 per cent of my clients, I do free work," he said.
"I have done free work in a case related to BJP too, and the BJP could pay. The case was of BJP elected members set aside by the Bombay High Court...they pleaded Hindutva, and I fought the case for free in the Supreme Court.
"And, it was a landmark judgement by the court, when I proved to it that Hindutva is not the name of religion," he said. He asserted that he has "not received" any money from the Delhi government and expressed his displeasure to media persons for being questioned over the issue.
"It is between the CM and the government. Why are you seeking my opinion? I have not asked him to raise the money for the government. But, if the government, wants to support the CM... It is for the people to object if they do not want to pay it," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Arvind Kejriwal")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}