Ex-minister accuses Kejriwal of graft; BJP, Cong gun for him

Struggling to steady itself after the shock defeat in the municipal elections, Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced another crisis on Sunday with a top party leader accusing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of accepting ~2 crore from a minister.

Kapil Mishra (pictured), who was on Saturday sacked as minister, alleged he was an “eyewitness” to Health and PWD Minister Satyendar Jain handing over ~2 crore to Kejriwal. Mishra also claimed Jain had told him in private that he had “settled” a ~50crore land deal in favour of a relative of the CM.

The bombshell prompted calls from the BJP and Congress for Kejriwal’s ouster, but AAP stood solidly behind its leader, insisting there was no merit in the allegation and that “even his (Kejriwal’s) enemies will not believe it”.

Mishra, who was Delhi’s water resources minister before being sacked, had sided with another top leader, Kumar Vishwas in his fight with Kejriwal, before the two called truce.

“I saw with my own eyes Satyendar Jain giving ~2 crore cash to Arvind Kejriwal at his residence. When I asked Kejriwal, he said such things happen in politics and it will be revealed later,” Mishra told reporters after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

“Jain personally told me that he had settled a land deal worth ~50 crore of Kejriwal’s relative. When I told Kejriwal, he said that it was a lie and asked me to have faith in him,” Mishra said.

Though Kejriwal did not respond to the allegations, his deputy Manish Sisodia and even Kumar Vishwas rubbished them. “The allegations are absurd and do not merit a response. He was sacked due to poor performance,” Sisodia told reporters.

Vishwas, who had criticised Kejriwal following the party’s dismal performance in the MCD elections, and even threatened to quit party after he was attacked by AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, came out in support of Kejriwal.

“We can disagree, fight or be disappointed with each other...I know Arvind for 12 years and I can say I cannot believe it, even his enemies won’t,” Vishwas said.

“I feel sad about the allegations. Be it about the party’s internal talks, discrepancies in ticket distribution, loopholes in political agenda... but it is wrong to level such allegations publicly,” Vishwas, to whom Mishra is considered close, said.

The city unit of the BJP demanded immediate resignation of Kejriwal and a probe by multiple agencies including the CBI, the income tax department and the Enforcement Directorate.

The Delhi BJP chief Manish Tiwari met Lt Governor Anil Baijal and requested him to explore the possibility of “immediately dismissing” the Kejriwal government.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken also demanded the resignation of Kejriwal, claiming the AAP had “lost its anti- corruption plank”.

Social activist Anna Hazare said he was pained at seeing his former colleague in the anti-corruption campaign facing allegations of corruption.

Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said the allegations needed to be probed by CBI under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.