PC rejects BJP charges, denies having interest with any case

Expressing deep hurt, Home Minister P Chidambaram today strongly rejected BJP's allegation that he had favoured a Delhi-based hotelier, his former client, in withdrawing three FIRs filed against him and dismissed suggestions there was any conflict of interest involved in it.

Chidambaram said since 2004, hotelier SP Gupta had made more than 40 representations to the Home Ministry requesting to withdraw the three FIRs filed against him, which were also backed by three MPs.

"I feel deeply hurt. I strongly reject completely unfounded allegations of BJP," the Home Minister, flanked by Home Secretary RK Singh and his predecessor GK Pillai, told reporters.

Chidambaram's remarks came against the backdrop of a raging controversy over the withdrawal of three FIRs against SP Gupta, who runs M/s Sunair Hotels Pvt Ltd.

The three FIRs relate to Gupta allegedly misusing the names of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and defrauding a firm - VLS Finance - to the tune of several crores of rupees.

Reports also suggested there was a conflict of interest as Gupta was a client of Chidambaram who fought his cases in the court as a lawyer. The reports also claimed that Chidambaram as a Home Minister recommended to the Delhi government to withdraw the FIRs.

However, the Delhi government yesterday had revoked its earlier decision not to press for prosecution of cases against a hotelier.

Dismissing the opposition charge of conflict of interest, Chidambaram said he can't have life long interest in over 25,000 cases he represented as lawyer in last four decades.

"This is a most ridiculous charge. I don't have any current subsisting interest with any case," he said.