INR 7 cr for a ticket: Congress faces heat over alleged bribery
Delhi Police has registered an FIR in connection with an alleged “cash for party ticket” case involving persons linked to the Congress, following a complaint by a Haryana-based man who claimed he paid around INR 7 crore to secure an election ticket for his wife.
Police said the case is under investigation and involves allegations that large sums were collected through bank transfers and cash payments over time. The complainant, Gaurav Kumar from Sonipat, along with his wife Suchitra, approached investigators with documents and details of the transactions.
According to the complaint, Kumar alleged that he was asked to make payments to secure a Congress ticket for his wife, whom he described as a State general secretary of Haryana Mahila Congress. He claimed that the money was paid in installments through multiple bank accounts as well as in cash.
Acting on the complaint, Delhi Police registered FIR No 11/2026 at North Avenue police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 61(2), 318(4), and 316(2). The FIR also names Ansh Ali, said to be associated with KC Venugopal.
In his written complaint addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Kumar named several individuals, including political functionaries and their associates, alleging they collected money in a structured manner through intermediaries, personal assistants, and multiple bank accounts.
He claimed that payments were split into smaller amounts and routed through different individuals to avoid detection.
He specifically alleged that funds were collected in connection with KC Venugopal through accounts linked to aides, including transactions in the names of individuals such as Nazma, Asiya, and Unais Khan on various dates in 2022 and 2023. He also claimed that payments were made directly into accounts linked to the political functionary on multiple occasions.
Kumar stated that he paid INR 75 lakh in cash at the Delhi residence of Venugopal after being introduced there for discussions regarding the MLA ticket. He said he had submitted biodata and held meetings as part of the process.
The complaint further alleged that Kodikunnil Suresh received money through his own account, his son’s account, and through his personal assistant, along with around Rs 90 lakh in cash. Kumar claimed these payments were made in expectation of securing a ticket.
In another allegation, Kumar said money was paid through Sahab Khan, the personal assistant of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for arranging meetings and facilitating the process. He claimed that Rs 25 lakh was handed over at Priyanka Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence office, and an additional INR 10 lakh was paid later. Kumar adds that after that, one more MP told me to give INR 25 lakh each to Priyanka Gandhi’s four staff members. I paid everyone, but she betrayed me. He further said that despite making payments running into several crores, he claimed the promised ticket was never granted.
The complainant stated that he possesses supporting material, including WhatsApp chats and a voice recording, to substantiate his claims. He also alleged that payments were made partly through bank transactions and largely in cash.
Kumar said his family has had long-standing links with the Congress but accused certain leaders of misleading party workers. He also expressed concern for his safety, stating in the complaint that he feared possible retaliation after filing the case.
Police officials confirmed that an FIR has been registered under relevant sections and that the investigation will focus on verifying the claims. “We are examining the complaint, financial transactions, and any supporting evidence provided. The money trail, including bank accounts and cash components, will be investigated,” an officer said. Investigators are expected to scrutinise bank records, transaction details, and communication records mentioned in the complaint. Statements of those named may also be recorded as part of the probe.
Congress, however, has strongly rejected the allegations. Haryana Congress President Rao Dan Singh had earlier dismissed the charges as “baseless and politically motivated,” questioning the timing of the accusations and asking why such claims were being raised nearly a year after the purported transactions.
