ED must probe ‘direct nexus’ between BJP and ‘South lobby’, says AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday said it has found “another link” between the witnesses in the alleged Delhi excise scam and the BJP, and has demanded that the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating the case, also probe the links between the “South lobby” and the ruling party if it claims to be an “independent body”.
According to Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy — the father of Raghava Magunta Reddy, who was arrested by the ED in connection with the case — was fielded by the BJP’s ally, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), in the upcoming Lok Sabha election, thus proving a “direct nexus” between the BJP and the “South lobby”.
“Magunta Reddy said in two statements that there was no discussion between him and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal regarding the excise policy, but after his son’s arrest, he succumbed and gave a third statement against the Chief Minister.
His son Raghava Magunta also did not mention the Chief Minister’s name in six statements, but issued a seventh statement against him, and after being turned into a government witness, managed to secure bail,” Mr. Bharadwaj said.
“The ED should also investigate Magunta Reddy and Raghav Magunta’s direct association with the BJP. They will find details of their mutual phone calls dating back years. Even a small probe will separate fact from fiction,” the Minister said.
Approver and donor
Delhi Minister Atishi said that after the “exposition” of how Sarath Reddy, the director of Aurobindo Pharma, became an approver in the case and then donated money in the form of electoral bonds to the BJP, this was another “big revelation”.
“I challenge the ED, if it is an independent agency, to bring into record this connection and probe it,” Ms. Atishi said, alleging that the BJP had ties with the liquor traders of the “South lobby”.
“The ED must present the relationship of the BJP’s relationship with the South’s liquor businessmen in front of the court by making BJP an accused in the chargesheet,” she added.