Arvind Kejriwal took money, says sacked minister Mishra
AAP REFUTES CHARGES Delhi’s deputy CM Sisodia, senior AAP leader Kumar Vishwas stand by Delhi chief minister even as Opposition leaders demand resignation, FIR
Delhi minister Kapil Mishra levelled corruption allegations against chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, including receiving ₹2 crore from health minister Satyendar Jain for “political reasons”, charges that were refuted by Kejriwal’s deputy Manish Sisodia and which have caused ripples in the embattled AAP.
A day after he was removed as water and tourism minister, Mishra said, “Day before yesterday, I saw Satyender Jain giving ₹2 crore to Arvind Kejriwal at his home. When I asked Kejriwal what is this, he refused to answer and said in politics there are some things, which I would be told later.” Talking to reporters at Rajghat, he also alleged that Jain had earlier told him that he (Jain) had settled a land deal of Rs 50 crore for a relative of Kejriwal. “When I asked Kejriwal about it, he said this is false and I should trust him,” he said.
The AAP leader’s accusation comes at a time when Kejriwal is struggling to keep his party together, with many questioning his style of functioning.
Deputy CM Sisodia said, “The kind of allegations that have been made are unsubstantiated. No one will believe them. It is not worth responding to.”
Senior leader Kumar Vishwas too came out in support of Kejriwal, and said even the CM’s enemies will not believe the charges.
“I know Arvind Kejriwal for 12 years… I can’t even think he will ...take a bribe,” he said.
When asked why he was levelling the allegations only after he was removed as the minister, Mishra said that for two years, both Kejriwal and Sisodia said good things but “suddenly now, the water condition has become bad”. “They should listen to their old interviews and tell us if they were lying earlier”.
Mishra, who claimed to be the only minister in the cabinet with no corruption allegation against him, said after writing the letter to the ACB on the water tanker scam, he met Kejriwal and told him everything.
“There was an MLA meeting also, but (there was) no talk of removing me as minister. Nobody has told me I have been removed,” he claimed. Mishra said he was ready to make a statement before the CBI or anti-corruption bureau if required.
The Congress demanded an FIR against Kejriwal. The party’s Delhi president Ajay Maken told reporters that Mishra’s claims were not mere allegations but testimony of an eyewitness warranting initiation of criminal proceedings against Kejriwal.
The BJP also trained guns on Kejriwal. “Kejriwal has no moral right to hold the post of chief minister. He must resign immediately,” BJP’s Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari said.
I know Arvind Kejriwal for 12 years... I can’t even think Arvind Kejriwal will be corrupt or take a bribe. Even his enemies won’t believe this