Dikshit hits back at Lokayukta, says case beyond jurisdiction

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today challenged Delhi Lokayukta's decision to indict her for alleged misuse of public funds on advertisements ahead of last assembly polls, accusing the ombudsman of going beyond his jurisdiction even as she met President Pranab Mukherjee on the issue.

The Chief Minister said the Lokayukta did not have jurisdiction to take up the matter as it dealt with campaign for assembly elections and that the Election Commission was the right forum to examine such an issue.

"Whatever the Lokayukta has done in the latest case is outside the laid down rules and regulations as well as tradition. It was a case of 2008. Why he has taken it up now," Dikshit said.

"If a political party or politician flouts any rule (in the run up to the election), then it comes under the domain of the Election Commission. Not under Lokayukta. The Election Commission should examine it," the Chief Minister said in an interaction at the Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC) here.

Lokayukta Justice Manmohan last week had indicted Dikshit for allegedly misusing public funds on an advertisement campaign to get political mileage ahead of last assembly polls and recommended recovery of Rs 11 crore either from her or Congress.

The Lokayukta had recommended to President Pranab Mukherjee to administer "caution" to Dikshit for the alleged misuse of public funds for a series of advertisements carried out in print and outdoor media in 2007-08 with punchline "Delhi is changing".

Asked whether she will return Rs 11 crore as recommended by the Lokayukta, Dikshit chose not to reply.

The Chief Minister later said she met the President and took up the matter with him. Dikshit said the President is yet to receive the Lokayukta recommendation.

The Lokayukta had initiated the inquiry into the matter following a complaint filed in 2009 by Vijender Gupta, former Delhi BJP President.