Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Book AAP, Kejriwal for money laundering: Maken

- Abhinav Rajput abhinav@hindustant­imes.com

After sacked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Kapil Mishra alleged that the party lied about its donation figures to the Election Commission, the Congress demanded a case against AAP and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken said, “If the opposition have made such allegation­s, it was still understand­able, but here a party colleague is making allegation­s. That too, with credible proof.”

Maken said besides a case under PMLA, the Congress also demand that the source of funds be investigat­ed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Maken said that senior Congress leaders includaudi­t ing Amarinder Singh and Anand Sharma had raised concerns five months ago and given statements in public that AAP receives funds from pro-Khalistan separatist groups but no effort was made to probe it.

“We urge that the government should investigat­e AAP’s foreign funding and find out the anti-national elements that are funding that party. If needed, a special should take place. All the companies and name of ministers that he (Mishra) had mentioned should be brought under scrutiny,” Maken added.

The Congress said Kejriwal should not only resign but also come clean on allegation­s of not revealing its full funding to the Election Commission and the Income Tax department.

Maken also took a dig at the BJP and said that it is difficult to believe that government agencies were not aware about “corruption in the funding of AAP.”

“If the government agencies were not aware, then it shows their failure. But if they were aware, then why was BJP government trying to shield the AAP? Why has there been no FIR registered yet?” he said.

When asked about the timing of Mishra’s allegation­s, Maken said the focus at present should be more on probing the allegation­s. “I will say better late than never on Mishra’s revelation­s,” he said.

 ?? HT FILE PHOTO ?? Ajay Maken
HT FILE PHOTO Ajay Maken

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