A day after reports that Rs. 130 crore of ‘unaccounted cash’ was recovered from AAP’s Chhattarpur MLA Kartar Singh’s residence during a raid last month by Income Tax sleuths, the party distanced itself from commenting on the issue.
AAP Delhi convenor Dilip Pandey said that the party will soon hold a press conference on the issue. “We will come with evidence and then comment,” said Mr. Pandey.
Mr. Singh on Wednesday had gone to meet the party brass with files to explain his position. When The Hindu tried contacting Mr. Singh, he refused to comment.
The 54-year-old Chhattarpur MLA is a property dealer by profession and in his election affidavit had declared total assets of Rs. 17 crore during the 2015 Assembly polls.
As per a PTI report, the I-T officials who raided his home and offices last month, allege that they uncovered documents that prove tat the AAP leader owns large farmhouses and benami (proxy-owned) properties through his associates. They also uncovered Rs. 130 crore cash from his residence. As per reports, the AAP MLA was unable to explain how much he paid for the farmhouse that he lives in.
When the raid happened, the AAP had jumped to the MLA’s defence and had alleged that he was being framed by probe agencies acting on the Centre’s behest.
CM Arvind Kejriwal had accused PM Narendra Modi of organising a witch-hunt against his party legislators by foisting false cases. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said, “Modiji, you deploy the CBI, Delhi Police, IB, ED and Income Tax, but we will keep doing our work.”
