MCD elections: In a major dent to Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP's) image ahead of upcoming MCD elections, Delhi Anti-Corrpution Branch arrested at least three people, including the kin of a party's MLA in a cash-for-ticket case.
According to ACB officials, AAP's Model Town MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi's brother-in-law as well as his personal assistant were among the people arrested in connection with a corruption case.
The MLA's brother-in-law has been identified as Om Singh and his PA as Shiv Shankar Pandey. Meanwhile, the third person has been identified as Prince Ranghuvanshi - an associate of Om Singh.
The arrests were made by the ACB after Tripathi allegedly demanded money from a party worker who sought a ticket for the upcoming MCD elections.
Shobha Khari, a resident of Kamla Nagar ward no. 9, alleged that MLA Tripathi demanded Rs 90 lakh in lieu of the ticket. The complainant said that she paid Rs 35 lakh to Tripathi and Rs 20 lakh to Wazirpur MLA Rajesh Gupta as a bribe. The remaining Rs 35 lakh were to be given after the name appeared in the list, she added.
However, not finding her name on the list, Khari complained to the MLA's brother-in-law, who agreed to return her the money. Later, the complainant filed a complaint to the ACB and also provided the recorded video of giving bribes to MLAs.
After receiving the complaint, the ACB laid a trap and arrested them on the intervening night of November 15-16. They were arrested when Singh along with his accomplices Pandey and Raghuvanshi had visited the complainant's house with the bribe money of Rs 33 lakh.
ACB likely to question AAP's MLAs.
According to reports, the ACB is also likely to question Model Town MLA Tripathi and Wazirpur MLA Gupta soon in this matter.
Meanwhile, the ACB has claimed to have audio recordings of four MLAs of the AAP including Tripathi, Gupta, Rakhi Bidlan and Pawan Sharma. The agency further stated that the recording is pertaining to the ticket deal which allegedly took place near Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia's residence.
Sisodia brushes off cash-for-ticket allegation
Meanwhile, Sisodia clarified that "tickets are not sold in the AAP" and also called for a fair probe into the matter.
"Someone paid money for a ticket & money was taken too but the ticket was not sold, it makes it clear that no tickets are sold in AAP. I want an unbiased investigation in the matter," he added.
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