Even as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) drew connections between Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung and the murder of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) official M.M. Khan, the Centre on Thursday threw its weight behind Mr. Jung.
Asking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to allow an “impartial” probe into the murder and not “lower the dignity” of his office by giving a “political colour” to it, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the Delhi Police was investigating, and making “good progress”, in the case.
“The Delhi Police should be allowed to conduct an impartial probe. Let them complete the investigation. No political colour should be given to the case. People holding constitutional posts should not lower its dignity by making indecent comments,” Mr. Rijiju said.
Mr. Rijiju’s comments came after Mr. Kejriwal accused BJP MP Maheish Girri of being allegedly involved in the murder of Mr. Khan — an accusation the latter denied.
“There is no question of putting political pressure. Let the truth come out and guilty should be punished,” Mr. Rijiju said, while adding that the AAP should not jump the gun in asking for the L-G to be named as a co-accused in the case.
“The Central government has full faith in the L-G and the Delhi Police for a fair investigation,” Mr. Rijiju added.
L-G’s office issues statement
The L-G’s office, meanwhile, issued a statement calling the AAP’s allegations as “frivolous” and said the murder was a grave tragedy for Mr. Khan’s family.
“Everyone understands that the claims of the AAP are frivolous and, therefore, the attempt to draw political mileage from this tragedy is sad,” a statement from Mr. Jung’s office said.
The statement clarified that a letter was submitted by Mr. Girri to the L-G on May 10 stating that in any dispute between the Licensee and the Licensor, in this case regarding that of a prominent hotel in central Delhi, arbitration would rest before the L-G under Clause 54 of the License Deed.
This letter was forwarded to the Chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council “for necessary action as per law”.
Subsequently, an arbitration petition was also submitted by the same Licensee in the L-G Secretariat which “was also forwarded to Chairperson, New Delhi Municipal Council, for being legally examined and to intimate action taken/position in the matter”.
“It needs to be mentioned that the matter had been duly processed on file in this Secretariat on 16.5.2016, prior to the tragic death of Mr. Khan, and the letter dated 17.05.2016 was issued in the normal course, without the knowledge of the tragic death,” the statement added.
The matter was, the L-G’s statement argued, “dealt strictly as per rules and procedure...that is followed when such representations are received.”
