In February 2015, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, an anti corruption crusader riding high on his activism, decimated the opposition, winning 67 of the 70 seats in Delhi Assembly elections. Two years later, he faces allegations of receiving a bribe of Rs 2 crore. The allegation comes from none other Kapil Mishra, who was once a close aide of Kejriwal and his cabinet colleague until Saturday evening when he was sacked.
Mishra on Sunday morning claimed Satyendra Jain, another minister in the Delhi government, paid Kejriwal the money in his presence.
"I saw Satyendra Jain handing over Rs 2 crore in cash to Kejriwal at his residence day before yesterday," he told reporters at Raj Ghat on Sunday.
"When inquired about the money, the CM evaded the question saying few things in politics cannot be explained," the 36-year-old former minister alleged.
Mishra said he has handed over details to Lt Governor Anil Baijal.
"After witnessing all this, I had to raise my voice. I'm ready to make a statement before the CBI and the Anti Corruption Bureau if required," he added.
Mishra further alleged that Jain had told him that he settled land deals worth Rs 50 crore for a relative of Kejriwal.
While Kejriwal refrained from reacting on the allegations, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said "The charges don't even merit a response."
"Now, the allegations he is making are so absurd and there are no facts," Sisodia said.
Immediately after Sisodia's counter, Mishra took to twitter saying, "The day Satyendra Jain goes to jail, I'll stand Vindicated. It's just a matter of few days."
The development triggered further political crisis for AAP with the Opposition demanding Kejriwal's resignation.
Members of Youth Congress workers protested outside Kejriwal's residence demanding his resignation and a CBI probe into the allegations.
The AAP has been in turmoil after its humiliating defeat in the Delhi municipal elections last month.
Minutes after Mishra made these serious allegations against Kejriwal, sharp reactions from all major political parties started pouring in with the BJP demanding resignation of Kejriwal saying he has "punctured the balloon of his honesty."
Mishra's sudden sacking from the cabinet raised further questions on the internal differences in AAP. Sources in the party said that Mishra was removed as he had openly opposed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over party's assertion that tampering of electronic voting machines led to the party's defeat in Punjab Assembly elections and Delhi MCD polls.
They also added that Mishra was very close to Vishwas and was seen hobnobbing with him when the poet-turned-politician attacked the Chief Minister and his coterie over the debacle in Punjab and Goa Assembly and Delhi municipal polls.
Mishra also claimed that the decision to sack him has nothing to do with his performance as a minster as was stated by the party.
"The decision was unilaterally taken by Kejriwal. I have not been moved out because of water problems. Both Kejriwal and Sisodia have never raised water problem earlier. Were they lying until now?" he asked.
Hours before his sacking was announced on Saturday, Mishra had vowed to "expose" those involved in the alleged Rs 400-crore water tanker scam. "The decision was taken because it was known that I was going to reveal some big names," he said.
During the day when Mishra went to meet Lt Governor Anil Baijal to submit his report, several AAP MLAs and leaders, including Vishwas, were gathered at Kejriwal's residence in Civil Lines. "Kejriwal is calling up MLAs at his residence.. hatching conspiracy against me.. but I won't bend," he tweeted ahead of launching striking allegations.
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