New Delhi, Dec 15 (IANS): Already under the scanner for alleged complicity in the 2G scam, Home Minister P. Chidambaram found himself in fresh trouble Thursday with the opposition pressing for his ouster following a report that he allegedly abused his power while quashing a forgery case against a former client.

Both houses of parliament were disrupted after a report in a national daily alleged the home minister had helped a Delhi hotelier who was his client when he was a practicing lawyer.

The home ministry, however, backed Chidambaram saying that it had acted as per the law in this case.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the AIADMK noisily protested over the issue. The Rajya Sabha was also disrupted soon after it assembled.

BJP members showed copies of the English daily that had published the report on Chidambaram's alleged interest in a legal dispute involving the Delhi-based hotel and its owners.

The report alleged that the home ministry had earlier this year directed withdrawal of FIRs against the hotel owner accused of cheating and forgery.

"The conflict of interest relates to a politically sensitive case in which Chidambaram's client S.P. Gupta, a hotelier, was also accused... The main case against Gupta was defrauding to the tune of several crores of rupees," according to The Pioneer newspaper.

It said that with the specific approval of Chidambaram, the home ministry directed the withdrawal of three FIRs against Gupta.

BJP's Chandan Mitra, editor of the daily, raised the issue alleging that the home minister had misused his power.

"Chidambaram misused his powers. He instructed the Delhi government and Delhi Police to withdraw charges. We think it is a big case of conflict of interest. Chidambambaram has no moral authority to remain the home minister, he should resign," Mitra said.

But the home ministry said Chidambaram had no role to play.

"The home minister had no role in this. He only said go by the law ministry's opinion. No senior advocate ever remembers who he advised a year ago," Home Secretary R.K. Singh told reporters.

Mitra was supported by other opposition MPs who gathered near Chairman Hamid Ansari's podium.

Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy said Mitra raising the issue was a case of conflict of interest because the story was published in the newspaper he edited.

"He should not be allowed to raise the issue in the house. This is conflict of interest."

To counter the protest, Congress members waved newspapers carrying reports of alleged land grabbing by Pune's Maharashtra Gandhi Smarak Nidhi of which Anna Hazare was a prominent member.

In the din, Minister of State for Planning Ashwani Kumar charged the opposition with disrupting the functioning of the house by inventing new issues.

He alleged that the opposition was not allowing the ministers to reply questions and introducing the bills.

Chidambaram was not in either house when the opposition raised the issue.