AAP files ED complaint against BJP’s Parvesh Verma over alleged cash distribution
text_fieldsThe Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has lodged a complaint with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against former West Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Verma and other BJP leaders, alleging the distribution of cash to voters in the lead-up to the Delhi Assembly elections.
The complaint was filed on Thursday by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who accused Verma of bribing voters with Rs 1,100 each in Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s constituency.
Singh claimed that while the ED acknowledged receiving the complaint, agency officials did not meet the AAP delegation. “I sought an appointment with ED officers to file this complaint, but they did not meet us. They have, however, officially acknowledged the complaint,” Singh told reporters.
Singh further alleged that significant amounts of money could be recovered if the ED conducted raids at Verma’s residence. Verma, however, maintained that the funds were distributed through an NGO, Rashtriya Swabhiman, founded by his father, former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma.
The BJP has dismissed the allegations, labeling them a diversion tactic by AAP. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor stated, “BJP stands for women empowerment. This is a non-issue raised to distract from AAP’s questionable politics.”
Verma is reportedly a potential BJP candidate from the New Delhi constituency, where he is expected to face AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal and Congress’ Sandeep Dikshit.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit raised concerns with Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena about alleged fraudulent practices by AAP. Dikshit accused the AAP government of misleading women by collecting their contact details under the guise of a nonexistent scheme called the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana.
Dikshit alleged that AAP workers were promising an increase in financial aid from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,100, even though no such scheme currently exists. The Delhi Women and Child Development Department issued a public notice clarifying the absence of any such program.
“This is fraud. If they promised Rs 2,100 after winning the elections, that would be different. But claiming an existing scheme and collecting information is deceptive,” Dikshit said. He called for an investigation and urged Delhi Police to halt such activities immediately.