ACB nabs AAP MLA’S kin, associates seeking ‘cash for ticket’; party denies
NEW DELHI: Delhi’s Anti-corruption Branch (ACB) on Wednesday arrested three men who allegedly took bribes on behalf of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lawmaker and promised party tickets for the upcoming municipal polls, sparking a strong denial from the party and a political row weeks before the crucial civic elections.
ACB announced that it arrested Om Singh, brother-inlaw of AAP’S Model Town legislator Akhilesh Tripathi, his personal assistant Shiv Shankar Pandey and a third person identified as Prince Raghuvanshi for allegedly taking money from a north Delhi businessman and promising his wife a ticket in the civic polls. The name of another AAP leader, Wazirpur lawmaker Rajesh Gupta, also cropped up in connection with the case, said investigators.
“MLA Tripathi has been summoned to the ACB headquarters tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 11am. The other MLA whose name has surfaced in the probe will also be summoned later,” said an officer aware of the probe, asking not to be named.
Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia defended the party and said it passed a test thrown at it.
“Even if someone exchanges money for an AAP ticket, the allocation process is not affected. someone paid money, but they still could not get a party ticket. I see a silver lining in it, and AAP has passed this test. This is solid proof that money does not have any impact in the functioning of AAP,” he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the resignation of the two lawmakers linked to the case.
“Today, they (AAP) stand exposed after the arrest of Tripathi’s brother-in-law with cash. They used to accuse BJP, but today it has been proven that (chief minister Arvind) Kejriwal sold tickets for the corporation elections. He should immediately expel Tripathi and Gupta from the AAP,” said Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls are scheduled to be held on December 4, with the results to be announced on December 7. The AAP is hoping to dislodge the BJP that has ruled the city’s civic agencies for 15 years now. Nominations for the elections ended on Monday.
ACB, which reports to the Delhi lieutenant governor, said businessman Gopal Khari, the complainant, approached the agency on November 14, alleging that Tripathi asked for a bribe of ₹90 lakh for his wife Shobha Khari to be given a ticket from ward 69 (Kamla Nagar).
“The complainant paid a bribe of ₹35 lakh to MLA Akhilesh Tripathi and ₹20 lakh to MLA Rajesh Gupta on Tripathi’s instructions. He assured Tripathi that the remaining money would be paid after his wife got the ticket. On November 12, Khari did not find his wife’s name in the list of candidates announced by the party. Accused Om Singh contacted Khari and said the money would be returned, and that his wife would get a ticket next time. Khari submitted a video and audio recording of the conversation when the money was returned,” ACB chief Madhur Verma said.
The officer said that on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, officers of the anti-graft branch laid a trap at Khari’s residence and caught Singh, Pandey and Raghuvanshi who were allegedly returning the ₹35 lakh in cash. “We are probing the role of other people in the case,” added Verma.
The three were produced before a Delhi court, which sent Singh and Pandey to ACB custody and Raghuvanshi to judicial custody.
ACB is also likely to get Khari’s statement recorded before a judge, which can be used as evidence during trial, officers aware of the probe said. ACB has filed a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The AAP said it never sold any tickets for elections.
“The nomination process for the MCD elections is over but in future, I appeal to people to not believe anyone who is offering party tickets,” Sisodia said.
AAP Rajya Sabha member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Singh said the party never stood to defend the guilty.
“No one should be harassed unnecessarily, but if someone is found guilty, then strictest possible action should be taken against them,” he said.
Tripathi and Gupta did not respond to requests seeking comment on the matter.
Someone paid money, but they still could not get a party ticket. I see a silver lining, and AAP has passed this test. MANISH SISODIA, Delhi deputy chief minister
Today, it has been proved that [chief minister Arvind] Kejriwal sold tickets for the municipal elections. ADESH GUPTA, Delhi BJP chief