On Friday, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sent a notice to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, requesting evidence to back up his claims of bribery involving the BJP.
The notice relates to Kejriwal’s assertions about “Operation Lotus”, wherein he and other AAP officials alleged that the BJP was trying to purchase legislators.
In its notice, the ACB has requested the AAP leader to provide the identities of the 16 AAP MLAs who were reportedly contacted by the BJP with an offer of Rs 15 crore to change parties.
The anti-corruption agency has requested phone numbers and additional information about the individuals who reached out to these AAP MLAs.
“Provide details of the 16 AAP MLAs who received phone calls related to bribery offers. Share details of the phone numbers/persons who contacted the above-mentioned MLAs with bribery offers. Present the evidence and proof that substantiate the bribery allegations made by you and your party members on various media/social media platforms,” the notice read.
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Earlier in the day, a major scene unfolded outside Arvind Kejriwal’s home after a team from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) was refused entry while trying to interrogate the AAP leader regarding bribery allegations he made against the BJP.
The development occurred just a day prior to the vote counting in Delhi, as Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena instructed the ACB to investigate AAP’s allegations of “Operation Lotus” against the BJP.
The core of the dispute is AAP’s claim that the BJP proposed Rs 15 crore to its candidates to change allegiance. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal previously asserted that 16 of the party’s candidates were promised Rs 15 crore each along with ministerial roles if they defected.
