As many as 11 AAP lawmakers have been arrested by the police in Delhi so far. (Representational Image)
Highlights
- Rajesh Rishi, legislator from west Delhi,accused of extortion by woman
- Woman, purpotedly an AAP worker, allegedly attempted suicide
- Another AAP leader, Kartar Singh Tanwar, raided by Income Tax Dept.
Two more Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lawmakers are in trouble in Delhi. One of them, Rajesh Rishi, has been accused of extortion and named in a police complaint by an AAP woman worker who allegedly attempted suicide.
The other, Kartar Singh Tanwar, found an income tax team at his doorstep this morning.
Mr Rishi has denied any links with the activist who allegedly attempted suicide on July 15 over a dispute with a colleague. The police say both women have filed FIRs or First Information Reports, one naming the legislator.
The woman allegedly tried to kill herself after leaving a note in which she alleged that she had been harassed by her colleague and the lawmaker.
Her husband has now been accused of rape in a complaint by the second woman.
Mr Rishi, the legislator from Janakpuri in west Delhi, claims that he has been "unnecessarily dragged" into a fight between two women.
He said: "I do not know the woman who has levelled allegations against me. But, I know the other woman as a party worker. My name has been unnecessarily dragged into their dispute."
Karan Singh Tanwar, the lawmaker from Chhattarpur in South Delhi, also faces a case after tax raids at his home. Mr Tanwar is among five businessmen whose houses were being searched on Wednesday morning.
After the arrest of 11 AAP lawmakers on various charges, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders have repeatedly accused the Modi government of persecuting party men.
Two AAP lawmakers were arrested within 12 hours on the weekend - Amanatullah Khan, the party's lawmaker from Okhla, was arrested forallegedly trying to run over a woman protesting outside his home against power cuts and Naresh Yadav, AAP lawmaker from Mehrauli, is accused of desecrating the holy Quran.
Mr Kejriwal has described his party's power struggle with the BJP in Delhi as a "holy war between Kauravas and Pandavas", referencing the epic Mahabharat.