ACB officials blocked from entering Kejriwal’s house

Just hours before the Delhi Assembly poll results, a team of the Anti-Corruption Bureau was turned back from the gate of Arvind Kejriwal’s home on Ferozeshah Road in central Delhi where they had gone to record his statement over his allegation of an attempt by the BJP to poach AAP candidates.

Kejriwal’s lawyers objected to the ACB team’s visit without any notice while the sleuths of the anti-corruption body said they didn’t need any notice or permission as Kejriwal himself is the complainant in the matter.

The ACB team was acting on the direction of Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena to investigate allegations of bribes being offered to 16 candidates to quit the AAP and join the BJP.

The LG’s order said: “It has been widely reported that the AAP has alleged that the BJP is offering bribes to its MLAs to quit the party. A representation was received from Delhi BJP stating that these allegations are false and baseless. The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor has desired that this matter merits a thorough investigation through the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to establish the truth.”

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said, “Sanjay Singh, Arvind Kejriwal if you lie, be ready to face the consequences. I said this in the morning, and I am saying it again. It won’t work that you say anything baseless and don’t face the repercussions.”

He said, “The allegations you have made are cheap and baseless. If you have facts, present them; otherwise, be prepared for the consequences. The kind of low-level politics you practise is not accepted by the people of Delhi. Before every election — be it municipal or Lok Sabha — your propaganda begins, but the people of Delhi do not appreciate it..."

NDMC Vice chairman and BJP leader Kuljeet Singh Chahal tweeted: “Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leaders are getting themselves exposed by telling lies after lies..."

Earlier on Thursday, Kejriwal had posted on X: "I don’t believe in exit polls. Don’t believe in them. I know why they are being manipulated..."He wrote: “Some agencies are showing Gali Galoj Party is winning more than 55 seats. In last two hours, 16 of our candidates have got calls saying, ‘Leave your party and join theirs, we’ll make you ministers and give each of you Rs 15-15 crores’. If their party is winning more than 55 seats, then why do they need to call our candidates?”

AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of launching an “Operation Lotus” in Delhi, saying the party was offering bribes to AAP leaders to destabilise the party and ensure their way to form the government in Delhi.

The drama of AAP candidates being poached comes a day before the results of the Assembly election to elect a new 70-member House. Most exit polls have given an edge to the BJP in the poll but the AAP has insisted that it will form the government.