Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was trapped in a controversy on Thursday after a sting operation conducted by Media Sarkar allegedly showed its leaders raising funds through illegal means. The funds were supposed to be used in elections in the Capital. The sting operation features nine members of the party, including its candidate from RK Puram seat Shazia Ilmi. Others shown in the video are Dinesh Mohania, Irfan Ullah Khan and Kumar Vishwas. In a late night development, Shazia Ilmi — in conversation with Times Now — said she might not contest the Assembly polls till her name is cleared.
Through the sting operation, it was also claimed that the ticket for the Badarpur constituency seat was purportedly sold for a staggering amount of Rs2 crore. Narayan Dutt Sharma is the party candidate from the seat. As this video emerged, an emergency meeting was called by the party functionaries on Thursday evening to chalk out future strategy in the wake of these allegations. Parties’ prominent leader and spokesperson remained inaccessible. later, Kejriwal posted a message on Twitter declaring Sanjay Singh and Yogendra Yadav will look into the allegations. The tweet also says: “No one will be spared, if found guilty.”
Sources said AAP has also sought raw footage from the media house. However, the tweet was not appreciated by several as it is in contrast to the character of the party as they would demand resignation at the drop of hat when it concerns others.
While criticising the AAP’s decision, a political leader of the Capital said the AAP leaders do not waste any time in demanding resignation of other political party leaders against whom any charges of corruption are levelled. “Their stand is always that a person should immediately step down if any allegations are made for want of fair and impartial enquiry. But in their case, strangely, they will investigate the matter first and if some one is found guilty, then action will be initiated,” he said. In the video, Shazia is seen seeking volunteers to take money on raw receipts. Kumar Vishwas has also been shown admitting to accepting money for his shows in cash instead of cheque. What is more surprising is that Shazia agreed to help the “reporter” without any document. A reporter of the media house posing as a staff of a private firm sought help to smear the image of a rival company. The video shows Ilmi first gave her consent for this, seeking certain documents against the rival company.
But, when Shazia was offered money, she agreed to help the reporter without the documents. In the video footage, Shazia was shown saying that the party accepts donations in cash. She was also found telling ways of taking money through illegal means.
Further, another leader Dinesh Mohania from Sangam Vihar and Irfan Ullah Khan from Okhla constituency allegedly promised to settle disputes in lieu of money. Meanwhile, AAP’s National Council member Surjeet Dasgupta resigned from the party. Coincidentally, the resignation came the same day the exposé was carried out on the AAP leaders.
later, AAP in a media briefing, said, “The AAP takes serious view of these allegations. The timing and nature of these allegations suggests that these are motivated. It is not surprising that a party that seeks to redefine moral standards in politics is being collectively targeted by the powerful with vested interests, including the big parties, some corrupt sections of the media and the corporates. Nevertheless, AAP owes an explanation to the nation, irrespective of its source or the motives.”
It also stated: “The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of AAP has decided to review the evidence presented to the public and take a decision on this issue within the next 24 hours. The PAC has requested everyone named in the CD to present their version. We have also requested Anuranjan Jha to provide us with the unedited footage of the sting operation by tomorrow.”