Dikshit takes on Lokayukta

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who was recently indicted by the Lokayukta for using public money for her election campaign in 2008, challenged the Lokayukta’s decision saying he had no jurisdiction in the matter and any election related complaint is the prerogative of the Election Commission.

“Whatever the Lokayukta has done in the latest case is outside the laid down rules and regulations as well as tradition. It happened in 2008 and suddenly Lokayukta takes it up and announces a verdict,” she said. She added that 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 and not the Lokayukta.

Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin had last week held Dikshit guilty of misusing public funds on Congress advertisement campaign to get political mileage ahead of last Assembly polls and had recommended the President to recover Rs 11 crore either from her or the Congress party. 

Dikshit refused to comment as to when she planned to return the money.