NEW DELHI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday defended the decision to pay lawyer Ram Jethmalani from the exchequer in a defamation suit filed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying it was a public matter.

He also questioned the timing of the matter being raked up.

"This case has been going on for one-and-half years now. So why is this issue being raised now," he asked, adding that it was a diversionary tactic by the BJP to draw attention away from the issue of faulty electronic voting machines (EVMs).

"There were allegations of corruption in Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) under the chairmanship of Arun Jaitley. Our government formed a committee to probe this matter and free cricket of corruption," Sisodia told reporters.

"The defamation case against Kejriwal was filed by those who feared they would be caught in the probe. This is a public matter, and not pertaining to Kejriwal's private property.

"It is proper that the government bears the expenses of the case," Sisodia said.