The Delhi Government’s Department of Vigilance on Friday wrote to the Secretary, Delhi Assembly, seeking prosecution sanction against AAP MLA Akhileshpati Tripathi under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PoC) in the ‘cash for ticket case’.
Meanwhile, Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel has claimed that he was yet to receive any communication from the LG office seeking his prosecution sanction against AAP MLA. Goel also alleged that information on the matter was leaked to the media before it reached him or officers of the Assembly.
Tripathi, the AAP MLA from Model Town, is accused of demanding Rs 90 lakh from a woman to allegedly secure her a party ticket for last year’s Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls, as per the Vigilance Directorate letter.
Three people, including a relative of the MLA and his personal assistant, were arrested on November 16 in the matter. “It is to bring to the notice that as per the Doctrine of Nemo Judex in Causa Sua nobody should be judge in his own case or cause.
Hence, the Speaker, DLA, may kindly be advised to examine this case objectively based upon the evidence and also keeping in view the statements under Section 164 of Cr.P.0 before the court and accord permission for Prosecution Sanction u/s 19 of PoC Act, 1988 with respect to FIR No. 11/22 dated 15.11.2022,” YVVJ Rajasekhar, Special Secretary (Vigilance) said in the letter addressed to Secretary, Delhi Assembly.
The vigilance department said that AAP MLA did not cooperate in the investigation and did not answer the questions asked to him properly.
The complainant named the accused AAP MLA Tripathi in his complaint as well as in his statement U/s 164 Cr.P.C. recorded before the court. “The facts/ evidences both human as well as technical evidences strongly indicates serious complicity of the MLAs and other persons in this bribery case.
Hence, it is recommended that the Speaker, Delhi Legislative Assembly is requested to accord permission for Prosecution Sanction u/s 19 PoC, 1988’, reads the letter.
Earlier this week, Raj Niwas officials said Lt Governor VK Saxena has referred a Vigilance Directorate request for the Delhi assembly speaker’s prosecution sanction in a case of corruption against Tripathi.
“I learnt from the media that the LG has referred the matter of prosecution sanction for criminal proceedings against Tripathi under the PoC to me. You would be surprised to know that till date I have not received any communication from the LG seeking my sanction,” Goel said in a press conference.
Under Section 19 (1) of the PoC, sanction of the competent authority (Speaker) for prosecution in case of offences charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 is necessary before court can take cognisance of the offences.