Durga Nagpal case: Jethmalani says 'Akhilesh behaving disgracefully'

Noted criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani on Monday lashed out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav over the suspension of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, and termed the entire episode to be disgraceful.

"This is a disgraceful thing. The young CM should never have done such a thing," he told media here.

Jethmalani had earlier on Saturday assured support to Nagpal, and said he is proud of the fact that India still has such genuine officers who are honest and work fearlessly.

"I have been reading about her in the newspapers and also seen it on the news channels. I am proud of the fact that India still has such genuine officers who are honest and doing their work courageously. Everybody is aware about the sand mafia and how dangerous they are. They have power and backing of the politicians," said Jethmalani.

"This girl has through her bravery increased the pride of the feminine gender. As a citizen of the country, it is my right to help her," he added, while asserting that he would not charge any fees from Nagpal.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, while commenting on the IAS officer's suspension earlier in the day said the rules will be followed.

"There are rules laid down and the rules will be followed. And we are in touch with the state government to find out the full details of the case," Dr. Singh told media here.

The Prime Minister's remark came hours after the Uttar Pradesh Government slapped a chargesheet accusing Nagpal of flouting norms and lacking administrative acumen.

According to reports, a copy of the chargesheet along with a report has been sent to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) at the Centre.

The Samajwadi Party government's 10-page chargesheet accuses Nagpal of violating norms while ordering the demolition of the wall of a mosque built illegally on government land at Gautam Budh Nagar in Greater Noida.

The chargesheet came a day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter to the Prime, asking him to ensure that the suspended bureaucrat is treated fairly.

The Congress Party yesterday hit out at the Samajwadi Party for attacking Sonia Gandhi for her support to Nagpal, and said the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh is trying to hide what is essentially a case of corruption and illegal mining.

Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit also dismissed Samajwadi Party's comments that Gandhi should also write a letter in support of Ashok Khemka, the Haryana IAS officer who had scrapped her son-in-law Robert Vadra's controversial land deals and was transferred.

Nagpal was suspended last month ostensibly for taking on the sand mafia and for ordering the demolition of a wall of a mosque that was being built on government land in the state's Gautam Buddh Nagar District, where she was posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate.