AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses his supporters at an election campaign meeting in old Rajinder Nagar, in New Delhi on Monday. (Press Trust of India photo)
Arvind Kejriwal tweeted today that his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will ask the Supreme Court to order an investigation into the funding of all parties, including that of its own, a day after a group of its former members and supporters accused it of receiving hawala or money laundering funds.
Here are 10 developments in the story
AAP, however, has since decided not to move Supreme Court for now. The party will address the media instead.
The group of activists, who call themselves AVAM (AAP Volunteer Action Manch), has alleged that last year, at midnight on April 5, AAP received 50 lakhs through four bogus companies that were fronts for money-laundering. AAP says the court should order a probe by a Special Investigation Team into these allegations.
NDTV has found that two of the four companies, Sunvision Agencies Private Limited and Skyline Metals and Alloy, had no credible business activity and their addresses were, indeed, fake.
A scrutiny of the 2009 balance sheets of a third donor, India Infolance, also shows no clear business activity or source of income.
AAP sources say the payments were cleared by the party's Political Affairs Committee and validated by a senior member who has since left the party.
AAP has denied any wrongdoing. "We've taken all donations by cheque. If the companies raised that money through some sort of violations, then how are we responsible for that?" asked Mr Kejriwal on a townhall show organized by NDTV. "Please punish me if anything wrong is found," he added.
According to financial documents accessed by NDTV, Sunvision Agencies and Skyline Metals and Alloys have not done any business last year, but each sold 100,000 shares at a staggering premium of Rs. 1.5 crore. Skyline Metals suffered a loss of Rs. 21,000 and its capital of Rs. 88 lakh is borrowed.
The allegations were seized by the BJP, which called it 'hawala at midnight.' "The party tries to wear its slogan of honesty on its sleeve. The companies have no directors, no income, no profits," said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, adding, "Political parties need to check the companies who donate money to them, even by cheque."
The BJP, which has enlisted top union ministers and nearly 120 MPs to coordinate its campaign in Delhi for the election, said AAP, founded on a pledge to fight corruption, stands exposed.
The BJP issued an ad today mocking AAP's claims of clean politics.
Post a comment