News Brief
Fresh Trouble For Arvind Kejriwal? LG Seeks NIA Probe Against Delhi CM For Receiving 'Terror Funding', AAP Claims 'Conspiracy'
Kuldeep Negi
May 07, 2024, 07:31 AM | Updated 07:31 AM IST
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Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has called for an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into allegations that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal received political funding from the banned organisation 'Sikhs For Justice'.
The banned Khalistani outfit SFJ was founded by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a wanted terrorist in India.
In a letter to the Union Home Minister, Saxena referred to a video (which he said was enclosed with the missive) in which Pannun declares Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party "received a staggering amount of $16 million in funding from Khalistani groups...", NDTV reported.
"... Kejriwal purportedly promised to facilitate release of Devender Pal Bhullar, in return for substantial financial backing from Khalistani factions to Aam Aadmi Party..." the LG's letter said, citing a complaint from a Hindu religious body and tweets by a former AAP worker.
Bhullar was convicted in the 1993 Delhi bomb blasts case. In 2001 he was given the death sentence but that was later commuted to life imprisonment.
The AAP boss also reportedly received money to "espouse pro-Khalistani sentiments".
In response, Aam Aadmi Party's senior leader, Saurabh Bhardwaj refuted the allegations, labelling the probe request as a politically motivated attack orchestrated by the BJP.
He asserted, "LG sir is an agent of the BJP... This is another big conspiracy against Chief Minister Kejriwal at the behest of the BJP."
This comes as Arvind Kejriwal is already in jail over corruption charges linked to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam that is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation.
Also Read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Voting Begins In Third Phase For 93 Seats In 12 States, UTs - All About It
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Kuldeep is Senior Editor (Newsroom) at Swarajya. He tweets at @kaydnegi.
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