Following corruption allegations against Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas expressed his support for the Delhi Chief Minister. “After my 12-year association with Arvind, I can’t even think that (the Delhi CM) could take bribe,” Mr. Vishwas said.
A day after he was sacked from the Kejriwal Cabinet, former Minister Kapil Mishra lobbed corruption charges at the Delhi Chief Minister himself. He said he saw Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain give Mr. Kejriwal ₹2 crore. “Satyendar Jain gave ₹2 crore to Arvind Kejriwal and the transaction happened before my eyes,” Mr. Mishra told the media at Raj Ghat on Sunday. “I had thought that Kejriwal will not tolerate corruption but he needs to reveal the reason behind the transaction,” he added.
Updates:
Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken has demanded the resignation of Mr. Kejriwal adding that the party had “lost its anti-corruption plank.”
Terming Mr. Mishra’s allegations against Mr. Kejriwal as “very serious” in nature, he said the CBI and the ACB should take cognisance of the charges.
“Kejriwal has no moral right to continue as chief minister in the wake of the allegations by Mishra. He should step down,” he said at a press conference.
Members of the Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress took out a protest against Mr. Kejriwal over the issue of corruption charges on him.Here's what the scene looks like outside his residence.
4.45 p.m.
Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi demanded an independent probe into corruption charges levelled by sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Without naming anyone, Ms. Bedi in her twitter handle said that the “allegation of corruption made by a Minister claiming to be an eyewitness against his own Chief Minister needs an independent investigation forthwith.
AAP leader Kumar Vishwas has opened up, says he can’t even think Mr. Kejriwal could take bribe. “After my 12-year association with Arvind, I can’t even think that (the Delhi CM) could take bribe.”
BJP’s Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari addresses at party office in New Delhi on Sunday.
BJP Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari says he is heading Raj Niwas to meet the Lt. Governor to demand Mr. Kejriwal’s resignation after Mr. Mishra’s corruption allegations.
Congress says Mr. Maishra's allegations are serious and the CBI must lodge an FIR.
After making corruption allegations against Mr. Kejriwal, Mr. Mishra says the Delhi CM is evading appearance before the media. In a tweet in Hindi he says: "Till yesterday he was telling the whole world that (MCD) poll loss was due to EVM. Now, (he) suddenly (raises) the water issue. Why does Arvind Kejriwal evade appearance before the media?”
AAP leader Kumar Vishvas, supporting whom is reported to have cost Mr. Mishra his job, is yet to react. But in a Hindi tweet he urges “workers to build mutual trust and be brave”
Former AAP member and one of the top critics of Mr. Kejriwal Yogendra Yadav says the “charge of taking bribe need solid evidence”. “I might agree with charges of power greed, arrogance, authoritarianism against Kejriwal, but charge of taking bribe need solid evidence,” he says.
PTI reports: BJP demands resignation of Mr. Kejriwal saying Mr. Mishra has “punctured the balloon of his probity“.
PTI reports: In first reactions from AAP top brass, Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia says the allegations of corruption levelled by Mr. Mishra “do not merit a response”.
“His allegations do not merit a response. He has been sacked due to poor performance,” Mr. Sisodia tells media. “The allegations are so absurd and there are no facts,” he adds.
Mr. Mishra is speaking to the media in Rajghat. He says he saw the Delhi Chief Minister receive ₹2 crore from Dellhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain. “Satyendar Jain gave ₹2 crore to Arvind Kejriwal and the transaction happened before my eyes,” Mr. Mishra says. “I had thought that Kejriwal will not tolerate corruption but he needs to reveal the reason behind the transaction,” he adds.
He also alleges that no action was taken on his report against former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. “When I became Minister I sent a report against Sheila Dikshit to CM (Mr. Kejriwal). What happened to that report after that everyone knows.” “Jain had told me that he settled land deals worth ₹50 crore for Kejriwal’s relative,” Mr. Mishra says.
“Kejriwal told me such things happened in politics,” he says. “I have been sacked after I spoke out. I have told LG about all corruption cases,” he adds.
“I have witnessed HIM taking illegal cash.. have shared all details with Lt. Gov.,” former Delhi Minister tweets after meeting Lt. Governor Anil Baijal.
Mr. Mishra was sacked on the eve of a “massive expose” he promised on the alleged water tanker scam in the Delhi Jal Board. “I am the only minister with no corruption charges. no CBI enquiry against me. Kisi beti rishtedar ko pad nahin diya. Sheila ka bhashtachar khola (I did not appoint a daughter or relative to any post. I exposed Sheila (Dikshit’s) corruption) (sic.)” Mr. Mishra tweeted.
The surprise move to sack him was also attributed to the support he gave to Kumar Vishwas, who recently appeared to criticise the party leadership over the AAP’s poor show in the recent elections.
Mr. Mishra had recently written to the Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch, probing the alleged water tanker scam, demanding why Ms. Dikshit had not been questioned so far.
(With inputs from our correspondent Soumya Pillai and agencies)
