New Delhi, Dec 23, 2015 (PTI) BJP MP and former cricketer Kirti Azad was today suspended by party chief Amit Shah for publicly targeting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with allegations of irregularities in Delhi's cricket body DDCA.

"Kirti Azad, Darbhanga MP, is suspended from party with immediate effect for his anti-party activities," a BJP statement said.

A show cause notice has been issued to him asking him to explain his "anti-party conduct", the party said, adding that further action will depend on his reply.

Azad had defied the party chief and went ahead with a press conference on Sunday highlighting corruption allegations linked to the Delhi and District Cricket Association(DDCA) of which Jaitley was the president for 13 years till 2013.

The BJP MP, who has been backed by former India cricket captain Bishen Singh Bedi and sulking BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, followed up the presser with an open dare on social media and barbs in Parliament targeting Jaitley, prompting the party to crack the whip.

Though Azad has been unrelenting in his attack, Jaitley has chosen not to proceed against him even as he dragged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and five other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, slapping civil and criminal defamation suits against them in the Delhi High Court and the Patiala House court.

BJP has rallied around the Finance Minister with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he will come out of it with flying colours. Amit Shah also batted for him saying the party stands united with him.