The Asian Age

Sacked mantri fires fresh `50-cr graft salvo at Kejri

Suspended by AAP, Mishra seeks lie-detector tests, approaches CBI

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

A day after alleging that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had taken `2 crores in cash from Cabinet colleague Satyendar Jain, sacked AAP minister Kapil Mishra on Monday sought a lie-detector test to check the veracity of his charge. Mr Mishra fired a fresh salvo at the Delhi CM on Monday, alleging a `50crore deal for a seven-acre plot of land in the Chhattarpu­r area had been arranged for the AAP chief’s brother-inlaw. Later on Monday evening, the Aam Aadmi Party suspended Mr Mishra’s primary membership, a decision that was taken by the political affairs committee, its highest-decision-making body.

While official agencies are set to question Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain over his alleged links with hawala operators, the AntiCorrup­tion

Kapil Mishra shares evidence on `400-crore tanker scam with Delhi ACB, statement to be recorded later...

Satyendar Jain may face trouble, with ED & other agencies likely to probe allegation­s on hawala; CBI is also investigat­ing

Branch will record Mr Mishra’s detailed statement after he alleged Mr Kejriwal had influenced the probe into the `400-crore tanker scam. Mr Mishra visited the ACB office on Monday morning and shared evidence on the tanker scam, which dates back to Sheila Dikshit’s tenure as chief minister. “Mr Mishra has said he wants to record a detailed statement, and we will give

Continued from Page 1 him time. We will record his detailed statement,” ACB chief Mukesh Kumar Meena said.

Asserting that a bogus bill amounting to `10 crores was made to favour Mr Kejriwal’s brother-inlaw, Mr Mishra also alleged that during the Punjab polls, there was massive corruption by the AAP in distributi­on of tickets, including supply of liquor by party members. He also said AAP leader Sanjay Singh was involved in lobbying for overseas funding of the party.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Mishra submitted documents on the `400-crore water tanker scam with the ACB. He has also sought an appointmen­t with the CBI on Tuesday to register a formal complaint in the matter.

The rebel AAP leader also dared the AAP to expel him and asserted that he would never join the BJP. He also claimed since he has made accusation­s against Mr Kejriwal, he had been getting death threats from those close to the chief minister.

“Satyendar Jain told me he had arranged a sevenacre land deal in Chhattarpu­r for the family of Arvind Kejriwal’s brother-in-law, the Bansals. Being PWD minister, he also fudged bills up to `10 crores in the department to benefit Mr Kejriwal’s relative,” Mr Mishra told reporters here.

Attacking the chief minister, Mr Mishra said that Mr Kejriwal does not want to resign. “Kejriwal’s weakness is his chair. He does not want to leave his chair. I want to ask Kejriwal if he will resign the day when Jain is sent to jail in a corruption case,” he said.

Rejecting the AAP’s allegation that he had been in touch with BJP leaders, Mr Mishra also dared the party to prove this, adding whoever raises his or her voice against AAP leaders is called a “BJP agent”. He said he was the only one in the AAP who strongly opposed the BJP and the Narendra Modi government’s policies.

“There are four to five persons in the AAP’s PAC who are indulging in corruption. I have got to know that the PAC will throw me out of the party in the evening. I will not accept the decision of the PAC, which takes place in a closed room. The AAP is not the party of four or five persons... it is the people’s party and the people will decide who should remain in the AAP,” Mr Mishra said.

“So Satyendar Jain is giving a clean chit to Arvind Kejriwalji, and Arvind Kejriwalji is giving a clean chit to Satyendar Jain. Simply wow!!!” Mr Mishra later tweeted.

At the press conference, he also issued an email ID — letscleana­ap@gmail.com — where people can complain of alleged corruption in the AAP across the world. “I challenge the AAP to make public the files pertaining to decisions they have taken in the last two years. There has been no case of corruption against me so far,” he said.

Earlier Monday, Mr Mishra said he had shared with the ACB all the evidence on to the tanker scam that dates back to Congress CM Sheila Dikshit’s tenure. “I told the ACB officials how chief minister Arvind Kejriwal deliberate­ly delayed the report and how public money was misused. Also, I told them how Mr Kejriwal, along with his two men, affected the tanker scam probe. The government also tried to shield Sheila Dikshit again and again. The ACB will call me again for a detailed investigat­ion,” he said.

The bombshell prompted calls from the BJP and the Congress for Mr Kejriwal’s ouster, but the AAP stood solidly behind its leader, insisting there was no merit in the allegation. The `400 crore tanker scam relates to alleged irregulari­ties in the hiring of private tankers to supply water.

Sources said, meanwhile, that Central probe agencies, including the Enforcemen­t Directorat­e, are preparing to examine Mr Jain over his alleged links with hawala operators. Mr Jain has come under the scanner of the income-tax department over alleged hawala transfers worth nearly `17 crores. Sources said the agencies may also seek clarificat­ion from Mr Jain in view of the fresh allegation­s by Mr Mishra against him. Mr Mishra had on Sunday alleged that he saw Mr Jain giving `2 crores to the Delhi CM at his residence.

 ?? — PRITAM BANDYOPADH­YAY ?? AAP MLA Kapil Mishra before submitting a report against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and health minister Satyendar Jain to the Anti-Corruption Branch in New Delhi on Monday.
— PRITAM BANDYOPADH­YAY AAP MLA Kapil Mishra before submitting a report against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and health minister Satyendar Jain to the Anti-Corruption Branch in New Delhi on Monday.

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