Did Arvind Kejriwal get political funding from pro-Khalistan group?

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently in jail in a liquor policy case, could face further troubles. Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has recommended a probe by the anti-terror agency against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor.

The development comes during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, with less than a month remaining in the polling in the National Capital.

What is going on? What is the AAP saying? Let’s take a closer look.

Delhi LG orders NIA probe against Kejriwal

The Delhi LG has called for an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Kejriwal for allegedly receiving political funding from the banned extremist organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), PTI reported citing Raj Niwas sources.

In a letter to the Union Home Secretary, the Lt Governor’s Secretariat has claimed that Saxena got a complaint about the Kejriwal-led AAP receiving $16 million (about Rs 133 crore) from the pro-Khalistani group to “facilitating the release of Devendra Pal Bhullar and espousing the Pro-Khalistani sentiments”, as per an Indian Express report.

Bhullar is a convict in the 1993 Delhi bomb blast case. In 2001, the former professor, who was deported from Germany, was given the death penalty for the killing of nine people and injuring 31 others in the explosion outside the Youth Congress headquarters in the National Capital. His death sentence was commuted to life term in 2014.

The complaint to the Delhi LG was reportedly filed by Ashoo Mongia of the World Hindu Federation.

In his letter, Saxena also referred to a video of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is based in the United States, where he alleged the AAP received $16 million from Khalistani groups between 2014 and 2022.

“… Kejriwal purportedly promised to facilitate release of Devender Pal Bhullar, in return for substantial financial backing from Khalistani factions to Aam Aadmi Party…” the LG reportedly said in the letter.

Saxena has also mentioned a letter written by Kejriwal to Iqbal Singh in January 2014, saying that “the AAP Government has already recommended to the President the release of Professor Bhullar and would be working on other issues including formation of SIT, etc. sympathetically and in a time-bound manner”.

Activist Iqbal Singh went on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in December 2013, with several demands, including the release of Bhullar from jail. He ended his fast only after receiving a letter of assurance from Kejriwal.

Saxena said in his letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that since the complaint is against a sitting Chief Minister and concerns political funding from a banned extremist organisation, “the electronic evidences adduced by the complainant requires investigation including forensic examination.”

As per India Today, there are also allegations that Kejriwal participated in a closed-door meeting with pro-Khalistani Sikh leaders at Gurudwara Richmond Hills, New York during his visit to the United States in 2014.

What has AAP said?

The AAP has rubbished the Delhi LG’s letter to the MHA.

Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj called it a “big conspiracy” against the party and their leader.

“Lt Governor sir is an agent of BJP. This is another big conspiracy against Arvind Kejriwal at the behest of the BJP. The BJP is in panic due to the fear of getting defeated in all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi,” he said.

Bharadwaj said the BJP had raised similar allegations ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls. He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said there would be an investigation but nothing was found in the probe.

“Due to fear of defeat, the BJP makes the same allegations before every election,” the Delhi minister claimed.

BJP’s reaction

The Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has also commented on the LG’s recommendation. He alleged that the AAP leaders “have taken political funding from a banned terrorist organisation," which is “infamous all over the world for its actions and they take money from them. It is a direct case of treason. You are taking donations and political funding from the enemies of the country,” Sachdeva said, as per News18.

He also called for “strict action” against the AAP leaders.

Will AAP’s trouble increase?

Kejriwal has been behind bars in Tihar Jail since 1 April in an alleged money laundering case related to the Delhi liquor policy scam. Other senior AAP leaders like Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain are also in prison.

In the absence of these bigwigs, Sunita Kejriwal, the Delhi CM’s wife, is campaigning for the party in the Lok Sabha polls . Some even speculated she could replace Kejriwal as the Delhi CM if push comes to shove. So far, it has not happened.

Notably, the LG’s letter has come to light a day before the Supreme Court is set to hear a plea by Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case.

The apex court had said in the previous hearing last week that it could “consider” granting interim bail to the Delhi CM due to the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

Even if he gets relief from the Supreme Court, Kejriwal’s troubles could increase if the NIA launches a probe on the Delhi LG’s recommendation.

With inputs from agencies