Delhi LG Recommends NIA Probe Against Arvind Kejriwal Over 'Funding From Sikhs For Justice', AAP Responds

The LG said he had received a complaint that Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had received huge funds from the extremist Khalistani groups for facilitating the release of Devendra Pal Bhullar.

Delhi LG VK Saxena recommended an NIA probe against Arvind Kejriwal.

Source : PTI

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday recommended an NIA probe against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly receiving political funding from the banned terrorist organization "Sikhs for Justice."

The LG said he had received a complaint that Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had received huge funds – $16 million – from the extremist Khalistani groups for facilitating the release of Devendra Pal Bhullar and espousing the Pro-Khalistani sentiments.

 

Saxena's letter, addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs, also said that since the allegations are against the CM and are related to the alleged funding of a political party from a terrorist organisation banned in India, the electronic devices adduced by the complainant requires investigation including forensic examination.

Delhi LG, VK Saxena has recommended an NIA probe against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly receiving political funding from the banned terrorist organization “Sikhs for Justice”

LG had received a complaint that Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had received huge funds – USD 16… pic.twitter.com/11wzfXvgmo

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2024

The complaint against the Delhi CM refers to a video released by Sikhs for Justice chief and wanted Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, wherein he has alleged that AAP received $16 million from Khalistani groups between 2014 and 2022.

 

 

The complaint was made by Ashoo Mongia, National General Secretary of World Hindu Federation India, along with former AAP worker Munish Kumar Raizada.

 

The letter stated that Saxena had received a complaint that the Kejriwal-led AAP allegedly received the funding from extremist Khalistani groups for facilitating the release of Devendra Pal Bhullar. Bhullar, who is in Amritsar Central Jail, was convicted in connection with the killing of nine people in a bomb blast in 1993 in Delhi. He was sentenced to death by a designated TADA court on August 25, 2001 and is undergoing life imprisonment after the Supreme Court commuted his death sentence.

 

The letter by the LG's Principal Secretary stated that the complaint is made against a chief minister and relates to political funding received from a banned terrorist organisation. "The electronic evidences adduced by the complainant requires investigation including forensic examination,” it said.

 

In the complaint to LG Saxena, it has also been alleged that Kejriwal held closed-door meetings with Khalistani leaders at Gurudwara Richmond Hills, New York, during his visit in 2014. 

AAP Calls It Conspiracy

Responding to the allegations against Kejriwal, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj called it “another big conspiracy against CM Kejriwal at the behest of BJP”.

 

"LG is an agent of BJP. This is another big conspiracy against CM Kejriwal by them at the behest of BJP. BJP is losing all the seven seats in Delhi and hence is upset. BJP had hatched this conspiracy even before the Punjab Assembly elections," Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

 

The move comes a day ahead of the Supreme Court considering granting Kejrwal interim bail in view of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The AAP chief is currently in Tihar jail.

 

The party sources said that the BJP had levelled the same allegations on the party ahead of Punjab assembly elections in 2022. AAP claimed that Home Minister Amit Shah had said he will probe the issue seriously, but nothing was found. The party accused the BJP of raking the issue once again before the 2024 Lok sabha elections.

 

As per a 2022 report in The Economic Times, Union home minister Amit Shah had took congnisance of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's allegation against AAP for its alleged links to Sikhs For Justice and assured Channi that he would 'personally look into' AAP's alleged ties with the pro-Khalistan outfit. 

BJP Alleges AAP Of Treason

The BJP, meanwhile, alleged AAP of treason saying the party was accepting funds from the enemies of the country.

 

"The leaders of Aam Aadmi Party have taken political funding from a banned terrorist organization, and that terrorist organization is infamous all over the world for its actions and they take money from them. It is a direct case of treason. You are taking donations and political funding from the enemies of the country...Strict action should be taken against them," Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva said.