Opposition on Thursday targeted home minister P. Chidambaram over a media report on the withdrawal of three FIRs against a Delhi-based hotelier, accusing him of misusing his official position to help a former client.
"It is a clear case of conflict of interest. A case of cheating and forgery was sought to be withdrawn against a hotelier at the behest of home minister P. Chidambaram. Chidambaram has earlier appeared for the hotelier in cheating and fraud cases," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters outside Parliament.
Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were disrupted by the BJP over the media report alleging Chidambaram, who was a lawyer, helped his former client.
Asking the Prime Minister to explain his stand on the issue, Prasad said, "It is a copybook of conflict of interest. This is a misuse of position and we want not only the Home Minister but the Prime Minister also to explain."
"There are documentary evidence to prove that home minister has acted on behest of his former client to seek quashing of proceedings and FIR against him," the spokesperson alleged
Supporting BJP's demand, CPI leader D. Raja said, "These allegations appear to be very credible. It makes home minister's position untenable. Because he is not reacting to the allegations. He is keeping quite, dead silence. I do not why.
"If home minister continues to be in the thick cloud of allegations, it is a problem for the government. home minister should explain why he is quite. The Prime Minister should also explain his stand."
The home ministry on Thursday said Chidambaram did not have any role in the withdrawal of three FIRs against S.P. Gupta, who runs M/s Sunair Hotels Pvt Ltd and was accused of cheating and forgery.