Jethmalani's letters to PM, President before he told Modi, "My diminishing respect for you ends today"
Text of the two letters:
Jethmalani’s letter to the Prime Minister (May 26, 2015):
You are aware that I am appearing for the Petitions in Writ Petition (Civil), No 683 of 2014, relating to the appointment the Central Vigilance Commissioner and a Vigilance Commissioner. The Petitioners are with perfect justification entitled to see that no unworthy person is appointed to either of these offices and the provisions of the Act are fully and strictly applied in the matter of appointment.
At the last hearing of the matter on May 13, 2015, though I was not present, my other junior counsel were present and the Honourable Court permitted the selection process to go on but before the appointments are made leave of the court has to be taken. When the matter is to be heard next the Attorney General will have to produce the order of appointment as well as entire original record. All the contentions of both the parties are left open and obviously the appointments will be subject to Court orders.
As a citizen India and as part of my duties as the counsel of the petitioner I will continue to serve the nation by enforcement the law to promote public probity. Of course this is a task and it becomes necessary to expose some people’s bad records. One such person is your Finance Minister. I have made no secret of my contempt for him. I have repeatedly warned you that he has no interest whatsoever in identification and punishment of powerful offenders or in repatriation of the proceeds of their crimes. It’s all over the media that at the last meeting of the Selection Committee you had kept Mr Arun Jaitley present and he was allowed to propose the name of Mr KV Chowdary as CVC.
KV Chowdary by no means has clean record. It is well known that corrupt public servant thrive with the help corrupt politicians. Mr. Chowdary has been connected with the previous France Minister Chidambaram whose great contribution to a cause very dear to you was wholly to frustrate it by his actions which themselves amount to crimes. This Chowdury is also ex-officio member of the special investigation team (SIT). Nothing in the SIT will remain secret from the criminals involved. I understand that your Finance Minister strongly recommended his name for the appointment as CVC.
I know you will not like it, but it is my duty to warn you that I will have to come with the whole bitter truth for the public and the Honourable Supreme Court to know. By the sheer presence of the Finance Minister your proceedings of the meeting are rendered null and void. It is true that if you secretly consult him and even feel compelled to follow his advice the truth may not become known but it does not mean that the law is being followed.
One more character to be avoided is Anita Kapoor, currently CBDT chairperson. I am still awaiting your response to my letter written to you earlier this month.
I still remain your friend but perhaps not for long.
Jethmalani’s letter to the President of India (June 2, 2015):
I am writing this in a state of great mental excitement. I am shocked at what the Prime Minister on the advice of his Finance Minister is about to do about fulfilling his claim during the election campaign that he wanted to eradicate every bit of corruption and provide a bureaucracy of unimpeachable integrity. This is also statutory requirement for the office of chief vigilance commissioner (CVC).
From the accompanying copy of my letter dated May 26, 2015, addressed to the Prime Minister, you will find how opposed I am to the appointment of Mr K Chowdary as the future CVC. After the appointment is sanctioned by the government, the formal appointment will be the act of the President of India. I am writing this to warn you that this is the greatest disaster that will fall on this unfortunate nation. For the nation’s sake, call for the entire record of this officer’s involvement in criminal activities from which he has managed to get out with the help of corrupt and anti-national elements, which the Prime Minister unfortunately cannot control.
I would like to call on you and demonstrate to you the fate which awaits our unfortunate people. Do hear me and postpone the action of the government which the government is determined to take.
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