Delhi Cops Arrest 'AAP MLA's Brother-In-Law' In Cash-For-Ticket Case, Party Denies Link To Leader

AAP worker Shobha Khari, wife of Gopal Khari had demanded a ticket, allegedly MLA Tripathi demanded Rs 90 lakh in exchange for it, the ACB official said, quoted by news agency ANI. 

New Delhi: The Anti-Corrpution Branch has arrested Aam Aadmi Party MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi's brother-in-law in a cash-for-ticket case, reported news agency ANI. Two others have also been arrested in connection with the case. AAP worker Shobha Khari, wife of Gopal Khari had demanded a ticket, allegedly MLA Tripathi demanded Rs 90 lakh in exchange for it, the ACB official said, quoted by the news agency. 

"On 15.11.2022, Anti-Corruption Branch, GNCT of Delhi arrested one Om Singh reportedly brother-in-law of Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, MLA/Model Town, AAP and his associates namely Shiv Shankar Pandey, a.k.a. Vishal Pandey, PA of Akhilesh Pati Tripathi and Prince Raghuvanshi U/s 7/13 of POC Act and 171 (E) of IPC i.e. for accepting bribe for giving AAP ticket of MCD election to Ms. Shobha Khari wife of the complainant Sh. Gopal Khari for Ward No. 69, Kamla Nagar," the probe agency said in a statement.  

As per the Delhi ACB, Gopal Khari had met Tripath to secure Councilor ticket for her wife, Shobha Khari when the MLA demanded a sum of Rupees 90 lakhs in return. Khari paid a bribe of Rupees 35 lakhs to Tripathi and Rupees 20 lakhs to AAP MLA from Wazirpur, Rajesh Gupta and assured that he would pay the remaining sum after getting the ticket. 

After paying bribe, when Shobha's Khari name did not appear in the list of candidates for MCD elections, Om Singh contacted Khari and assured him that his wife will be given a ticket in the next election and also offered to return the money. 

Khari has also submitted with the agency, the audio and video recordings of his alleged dealings during payment and return of the bribe amount. 

"A case vide FIR No. 11/2022 U/s 7/13 of POC Act and 171 (E) of IPC dated 15.11.2022 has been registered at PS Anti-Corruption Branch, Delhi and three accused persons named above have been arrested. The bribe
amount of Rs. 33 lakhs have been seized. Further investigation of the case is being carried out to unearth the whole matter and to collect evidences in this regard," the ACB added.  

Meanwhile the Aam Aadmi Party has denied Om Singh's link to Akhilesh Pati Tripathi.