Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh has lodged a complaint with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against BJP MP Parvesh Verma and former MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa, accusing them of distributing cash to voters in the New Delhi constituency. This constituency is where AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is seeking re-election in the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls.
Singh visited the ED’s office on Thursday to submit a written complaint, following allegations by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi that Verma was handing out cash to women voters. “They have only received the complaint. No official has assured us of any action. What the ED will do, I can’t say. They have provided an official receipt for the complaint,” Singh said after filing the report.
मतदाताओं को लुभाने के लिए पैसे बांट रही BJP लेकिन ED खामोश बैठी‼️
♦️ BJP नेता प्रवेश वर्मा द्वारा महिलाओं को ₹1100 बांटे जा रहे हैं
♦️ मैंने इस मामले को लेकर ED से शिकायत की लेकिन उनके पास मिलने तक का समय नहीं
♦️ ED की चुप्पी बताती है कि वह केवल नरेंद्र मोदी के इशारे पर… pic.twitter.com/TIOwaX8LV3
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 26, 2024
The controversy erupted on Wednesday when Atishi and Kejriwal accused Verma of bribing voters with Rs 1,100 each in exchange for support. Kejriwal lashed out at Verma, calling him a “traitor” and questioning whether Delhiites wanted him as their Chief Minister. “They are giving Rs 1,100 to each voter every day and asking them to vote for their party. Are you helping the needy or openly buying votes? Your father must be ashamed of having a traitor son like you,” Kejriwal tweeted.
Cash being distributed at Parvesh Verma’s residence: Atishi
Atishi alleged that the cash was being distributed to women from slum clusters at Verma’s Windsor Place residence, where their voter ID details were reportedly being registered. She demanded raids at the location by the Delhi Police, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and ED, claiming “crores of rupees are stashed” there.
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Responding to the allegations, Parvesh Verma denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he was “helping people” and not distributing liquor like the AAP. He stated that the money was part of an initiative under the ‘Rashtriya Swabhiman’ scheme.
Sanjay Singh intensified the attack, accusing the ED of selectively targeting opposition leaders and acting under the Prime Minister’s directives. “Voters are being bribed openly in Arvind Kejriwal’s constituency with Rs 1,100 each. Millions of rupees could be recovered from former MP Pravesh Verma’s house if the ED conducts raids,” Singh alleged.
The political showdown comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February next year, as both AAP and BJP ramp up their campaigns. The BJP is yet to announce its chief ministerial candidate, though speculations about Verma being the potential contender are rife.
