AAP on the hot seat just days before elections: Faces allegations of funding scam

Moneylife Digital Team 02 February 2015

These allegations have come up at a time when there are just five days to go for the Delhi assembly polls, and closely follow AAP-leader Arvind Kejriwal's statement about his plans to file a complaint against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the Election Commission (EC)

In a press release issued today, the AAP Volunteers' Action Manch (AVAM), a volunteer group, has made allegations against the Aam Admi Party (AAP) for indulging in a funding scam and money laundering by receiving donations worth Rs2 crore from bogus companies. These allegations have come up at a time when there are just five days to go for the Delhi assembly polls, and closely follow AAP-leader Arvind Kejriwal's statement about his plans to file a complaint against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the Election Commission (EC) for attacking his community in a recent advertisement.

The AVAM, in its press release, questions the “clean” image of the AAP by pointing out that the AAP received four donations, each worth Rs50 lakh from four different companies at exactly 12 AM on 5th April 2014. On further investigation, they found that all these companies had provided fake addresses and conduct no business activity. According to the press release, this example is just “the tip of the iceberg”, and that they have found several such cases of money laundering through front companies. It also mentions that IRS officers are trained to detect and prevent such laundering, perhaps a dig at AAP-leader Arvind Kejriwal who is himself an ex-IRS officer.

Another issue noted by the AVAM is that the donation details the AAP so proudly displays on its website is “beyond scrutiny”, because one needs to have the transaction ID in order to investigate any of the data provided. Not just that, any donations worth more than Rs.10 lacs need to be approved by its Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC), headed by Arvind Kejriwal himself. Hence, the fact that such massive transactions from bogus companies missed his notice is bound to raise a few eyebrows.

No office-bearers of the AAP, including their treasurer Mr Krishnakant Saveda, have responded to any of the emails from AVAM. However, AAP leader Atishi Marlena responded to the allegations in a tweet, stating “We will welcome any investigation agency to probe funds. All transactions are legitimate, we have nothing to hide.”

The AVAM, on their YouTube channel, have uploaded a video explaining their investigation and findings. It video can be viewed here.

Comments

User

MG Warrier

1 decade ago

12 noon is mid-day. 12 p m is mid-night. After 12 p m it should be 00.00.01 a m
Will someone clarify whether 12 A M is during the day or night?
Sorry to use this space for this purpose.

Kiran Aggarwal

1 decade ago

KEJRIWAL HAS DENIED THIS 50 LAKHS CLAIM
WD LATEST INTERVIEW
WD BARKHA DUTT NDTV DATED 2 ND FEB 2015.

KEJRIWAL IS RIGHT MAN FOR DELHI
I HAVE SEEN HIS 49 DAYS WORK ON GROUND IN DLEHI
YES MY ELECTRICITY BILL FULL 50 % HALF AND WATER BILL WAS NILL
PLUS MANY GREAT CHANGES .

YOU NEED TO BE IN DELHI AND TALK PEOPLE TO FEEL THE VALUE OF AAP .
THIS IS ONLY CONVINCING