Troubles seem to be mounting for the jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena recommended National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe against the AAP chief for allegedly receiving political funding from the banned terrorist organisation ‘Sikhs for Justice’ to the Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday. The LG claimed that Kejriwal “has received a staggering amount of $16 million in funding from Khalistani groups between 2014 and 2022.”

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, who is in Tihar jail, was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an excise policy linked money laundering case.

In a letter to the Union Home secretary, the Lieutenant Governor’s secretariat said Saxena had received a complaint that the Kejriwal-led AAP allegedly received USD 16 million funding from extremist Khalistani groups for facilitating the release of Devendra Pal Bhullar.

“Keeping in view, the sensitivity and seriousness of the allegations levelled in the complaint, the LG has desired that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, may consider referring the matter to the NIA for conducting comprehensive investigation into the matter,” the letter to the Home Ministry read.

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.

Reacting to the development, senior AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj called it “yet another conspiracy against Kejriwal at the behest of BJP”.

“They are losing all seven seats in Delhi and are rattled by the fear of defeat in Lok Sabha polls,” he claimed, adding that the LG is the agent of BJP and the party had done something similar before also in Punjab elections.

The complaint was filed by World Hindu Federation’s National General Secretary Ashoo Mongia.

“I am directed to forward a complaint dated 01.04.2024 (in original) received from Ashoo Mongia National General Secretary (World Hindu Federation India), along with printout of posts on platform ‘X’ (erstwhile Twitter), made by Dr Munish Kumar Raizada, former worker of Aam Aadmi Party, referred to in the enclosed letter and a pen drive as received,” the letter stated.

The LG further said “the complainant has requested for a comprehensive enquiry into the allegations regarding funding of Aam Aadmi Party by Extremist group Justice for Sikhs”.

The complaint is made against a Chief Minister and relates to political funding received from a banned terrorist organisation, the letter stated.

Claiming that Kejriwal received millions in funding for facilitating the release of Bhullar, the letter stated, “The complainant has referred to the contents of a video (in enclosed pen drive), purportedly featuring Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, (Khalistani terrorist and founder of banned organisation Sikhs For Justice), wherein he has alleged that AAP-led by Arvind Kejriwal has received a staggering amount of $16 million in funding from Khalistani groups between 2014 and 2022.”

“It has also been alleged that a clandestine meeting occurred in 2014 between Kejriwal and pro-Khalistani Sikhs at Gurdwara Richmond Hills, New York. During the said meeting, 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 claimed.

Troubles seem to be mounting for the jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena recommended National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe against the AAP chief for allegedly receiving political funding from the banned terrorist organisation ‘Sikhs for Justice’ to the Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday. The LG claimed that Kejriwal “has received a staggering amount of $16 million in funding from Khalistani groups between 2014 and 2022.”

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, who is in Tihar jail, was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an excise policy linked money laundering case.

In a letter to the Union Home secretary, the Lieutenant Governor’s secretariat said Saxena had received a complaint that the Kejriwal-led AAP allegedly received USD 16 million funding from extremist Khalistani groups for facilitating the release of Devendra Pal Bhullar.

“Keeping in view, the sensitivity and seriousness of the allegations levelled in the complaint, the LG has desired that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, may consider referring the matter to the NIA for conducting comprehensive investigation into the matter,” the letter to the Home Ministry read.

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.

Reacting to the development, senior AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj called it “yet another conspiracy against Kejriwal at the behest of BJP”.

“They are losing all seven seats in Delhi and are rattled by the fear of defeat in Lok Sabha polls,” he claimed, adding that the LG is the agent of BJP and the party had done something similar before also in Punjab elections.

The complaint was filed by World Hindu Federation’s National General Secretary Ashoo Mongia. “I am directed to forward a complaint dated 01.04.2024 (in original) received from Ashoo Mongia National General Secretary (World Hindu Federation India), along with printout of posts on platform ‘X’ (erstwhile Twitter), made by Dr Munish Kumar Raizada, former worker of Aam Aadmi Party, referred to in the enclosed letter and a pen drive as received,” the letter stated.

The LG further said “the complainant has requested for a comprehensive enquiry into the allegations regarding funding of Aam Aadmi Party by Extremist group Justice for Sikhs”.

The complaint is made against a Chief Minister and relates to political funding received from a banned terrorist organisation, the letter stated.

Claiming that Kejriwal received millions in funding for facilitating the release of Bhullar, the letter stated, “The complainant has referred to the contents of a video (in enclosed pen drive), purportedly featuring Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, (Khalistani terrorist and founder of banned organisation Sikhs For Justice), wherein he has alleged that AAP-led by Arvind Kejriwal has received a staggering amount of $16 million in funding from Khalistani groups between 2014 and 2022.”

“It has also been alleged that a clandestine meeting occurred in 2014 between Kejriwal and pro-Khalistani Sikhs at Gurudwara Richmond Hills, New York. During the said meeting, 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 claimed.