By The Sampadak Express
The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government has issued a notice to Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Friday, requesting his participation in an ongoing inquiry concerning his serious allegation that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attempted to bribe AAP candidates ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections. Calling the allegation “extremely serious,” the ACB has asked Kejriwal to make himself available for questioning and to provide relevant details.
In the notice, the ACB stated, “The Anti-Corruption Branch, GNCT of Delhi, is conducting an enquiry into the allegations regarding the offer of bribes to MLAs of Aam Aadmi Party. These allegations are extremely serious and, therefore, require urgent enquiry and intervention by ACB to establish the truth in the matter.”
The notice also requested Kejriwal to be present at a time convenient to him on February 7, 2025, to provide information regarding the following five key questions:
1. Whether the tweet about the bribe offer was posted by you or otherwise?
2. Do you agree with the contents of the tweet that 16 AAP MLA candidates were offered bribes?
3. Can you provide the details of the 16 AAP MLA candidates who allegedly received phone calls regarding the bribe offer?
4. Can you provide the phone numbers or the identities of the individuals who contacted the aforementioned MLAs regarding the bribe offer?
5. Are there any other details or evidence in support of your claim or the allegations that you and your party members have made about the offer of bribes, as shared through various media platforms?
What Arvind Kejriwal Alleged
The controversy erupted after Arvind Kejriwal made serious accusations against the BJP, claiming that 16 AAP candidates had been offered ₹15 crore each along with ministerial positions in exchange for switching sides.
Kejriwal made this allegation shortly after the exit polls predicted a victory for the BJP in the Delhi elections. On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Some agencies are showing that the abusive party (BJP) is getting more than 55 seats. In the last two hours, 16 of our candidates have received calls that if they leave the AAP and join their party, they will be made ministers and given ₹15 crore each.”
Following Kejriwal’s claims, the ACB filed a case based on the complaint forwarded by Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, V K Saxena.
ACB’s Efforts to Contact Kejriwal
In response to the ACB’s notice, an investigative team visited Kejriwal’s residence to question him regarding the bribery allegations. However, the situation became tense when AAP leaders allegedly refused to allow the officials to meet with Kejriwal. AAP members accused the ACB officials of being under BJP’s influence and attempting a political stunt.
Sanjeev Nasiar, the legal cell head of AAP, stated, “The ACB didn’t have a warrant or any mandate to conduct an investigation at Kejriwal’s house. When we asked why they were there, they claimed they had come to receive a complaint from Kejriwal. However, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh had already gone to their office to file a complaint. It appears they are simply following orders from someone else over the phone. This is a political stunt orchestrated by the BJP.”
Background of the Delhi Assembly Elections
The Delhi Assembly elections were held on February 5, 2025, with results scheduled to be announced on February 10, 2025. The political situation remains tense as the AAP and BJP continue to trade accusations, with the opposition party accusing BJP of using unethical tactics to sway the election results.
This investigation by the ACB has intensified the already contentious political climate in the capital as both parties engage in a war of words over alleged bribery attempts. The coming days could reveal more about the investigation and whether the allegations hold any weight or are dismissed as part of the political rivalry between the two parties.
For the latest updates stay tuned to The Sampadak Express.
