In a latest development, a team from the Delhi Police Crime Branch arrived at the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday morning to serve a notice, asking him to join the ongoing probe in the MLA ‘poaching’ claim case. The police officials are seeking evidence related to the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) accusation against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to buy AAP MLAs.
Notice Served as Tensions Rise
The notice comes on the heels of AAP leaders, including CM Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that seven party MLAs were offered ₹25 crore each along with a BJP ticket to contest polls if they switched sides. The BJP swiftly rejected these claims as false and baseless. The saffron party challenged CM Kejriwal to provide evidence substantiating his allegations.
On Friday, a police team had visited the Chief Minister’s residence to serve a notice, but the CM office claimed that the Crime Branch officers did not provide a ‘receiving’ for the notice.
BJP Reacts to Allegations
The BJP, in response to the accusations made by Arvind Kejriwal, criticized him for what they termed as “lying” and urged him to disclose the names of the MLAs allegedly approached by the BJP. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva dismissed the claims, citing them as an expression of Kejriwal’s political frustration. He questioned the credibility of the AAP chief’s statements, especially as the party holds a substantial majority in the Delhi Assembly.
Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, accused Chief Minister Kejriwal of making false allegations to defame the BJP. Bidhuri called for proof of Kejriwal’s claims and suggested that the Chief Minister should resign if unable to provide evidence. The BJP also hinted at exploring legal options in response to the situation.
AAP’s Counter-Allegations
In addition to the MLA ‘poaching’ allegations, AAP leaders claimed that the BJP was plotting to get Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrested in a purportedly “fake” liquor scam case. They asserted that the BJP’s aim was to topple the AAP government by enticing its MLAs.
Kejriwal’s Ongoing Legal Matters
Notably, the poaching challenge is not the only legal challenge faced by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He has previously ignored four notices from the Enforcement Directorate related to a money laundering case linked to an alleged excise policy scam in the Delhi government. The political landscape in Delhi remains charged as these legal and political battles unfold.
The tussle between the AAP and the BJP continues to escalate, raising questions about the stability of the political environment in the capital city. As the police serve notice to CM Arvind Kejriwal, the political discourse intensifies, setting the stage for a contentious period ahead.
