The Delhi Police Crime Branch has issued a new notice to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, urging him to provide evidence by Monday in response to his allegations of BJP attempting to poach AAP MLAs. Additionally, AAP leader and minister Atishi received a notice to respond within three days regarding the poaching claim case.
In a letter undersigned by Pankaj Arora, ACP of Central Range Crime, the Crime Branch mentioned, “An inquiry is being conducted by the Crime Branch of Delhi police, on a complaint received in respect of the allegations made by you that the BJP has offered Rs 25 crore each to the sitting MLAs of AAP for leaving the party and joining the BJP.”
The notice emphasized that evidence related to the alleged cognizable crime should be submitted by February 5. Earlier, a Crime Branch team visited Atishi’s residence to serve a notice concerning her assertion that the BJP aimed to lure away AAP MLAs through cash inducements, part of ‘Operation Lotus 2.0’.
Jasmine Shah, an AAP leader, criticized the notices, stating, “There is also no mention of any section of the IPC or CrPC. All it has are words inscribed on a piece of white paper.”
Responding to the AAP’s criticism, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla accused Kejriwal and his associates of being ‘un-crowned kings of corruption’ and ‘fugitives,’ urging them to cooperate with the investigation and provide evidence. BJP MP Pravesh Verma dismissed the allegations as a tactic to divert attention, stating that if the claims were true, the AAP would have cooperated with the notices.
Former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir asserted that those who are honest face the law and do not evade it. Atishi had earlier alleged that the BJP approached several AAP MLAs with bribes and threats in an attempt to sway them to their side.
