Trouble mounts for Kejriwal as Delhi LG recommends anti-terror probe against him over SFJ funding

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The complaint mentioned that the money was meant to ‘espouse’ the Pro-Khalistani sentiments 

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Monday (May 6) has called for an anti-terror investigation into allegations against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that his party received political funding from the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) group, which was founded by wanted terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. 

The latest development will increase tensions for the jailed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo who was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case pertaining to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government’s excise policy. 

The LG called for a probe after he had received a complaint that Kejriwal-led AAP had received huge funds, said to be $16 million, from the extremist Khalistani group. 

As per the claim, the money was for facilitating the release of Devendra Pal Bhullar, who was a former professor, convicted in the 1993 Delhi bomb blasts case. Bhullar received the death sentence in 2001, but it was later commuted to life imprisonment. 

The complaint mentioned that the money was also meant to “espouse” the Pro-Khalistani sentiments. 

While responding to the allegation, Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, said, “LG is an agent of BJP. This is another big conspiracy against CM Kejriwal by them at the behest of BJP. BJP is losing all the seven seats in Delhi and hence is upset. BJP had hatched this conspiracy even before the Punjab Assembly elections.” 

Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest 

Kejriwal targeted the Centre as he filed his response to the ED affidavit in the Supreme Court, stating that his arrest was illegal. He called the arrest an “unprecedented assault” on the democracy. 

Kejriwal further noted that there was no proof or material evidence that the AAP received funds or advanced kickbacks from the South group. 

“Not a single rupee was traced back to the AAP, and the allegations put forth in this regard are devoid of any tangible evidence, rendering them vague, baseless without any corroboration,” Kejriwal’s affidavit read. 

(With inputs from agencies)