Is AAP Bringing Crores Of Cash To Delhi From Punjab For Assembly Polls? LG Orders Strict Checking Of Private Cars

New Delhi: Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit has alleged that crores of rupees are being transferred from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-ruled Punjab to Delhi for the Assembly elections scheduled to be held in the national Capital by February 2025.

According to Dikshit, the son of Delhi’s three-term chief minister Sheila Dikshit, private vehicles with Punjab Police escorts are being used to transfer large sums of money, reported ANI. Though no party was named, AAP seems to be the ‘target’. AAP and Congress have not gone into an alliance, making it a three-cornered contest along with the BJP.

Dikshit, who will contest from the New Delhi constituency, also requested the Director General of Police (DGP) in Punjab and state governments of Haryana and Rajasthan to strictly monitor movement of such vehicles.

Based on the serious allegations, Lt Governor V K Saxena on Saturday directed Delhi’s police commissioner to immediately start checking “private cars” entering the national Capital from Punjab.

The probability of such “illegal” money being used to influence voters ahead of the polls can’t be ruled out, said the LG, adding that such acts will undermine conduct of free and fair polls.

“Lieutenant Governor has noted that the elections to Delhi Legislative Assembly are likely to be conducted shortly and the possibility of using such illegal money in the ensuing election to influence the voters of Delhi cannot be ruled out. Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor has also noted that the use of money power in the election is not only an offence under sections 170 & 171 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and section 123 of Representation of People Act, 1951 but also an impediment to a free and fair elections,” stated the letter signed by the principal secretary to the Delhi LG.

The LG asked the chief secretary to bring the matter to the chief electoral officer’s attention.

LG Saxena also ordered an inquiry into allegations of ‘non-government’ people collecting personal details of residents of Delhi for registering their names for AAP’s welfare scheme ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’.

The letter also gave authority to the CP to direct field officers to take action against any person who is found to be breaching the privacy of citizens by doing so.

A political tow erupted since AAP announced Mahila Samman Yojana, one of its poll promises which guarantees a monthly allowance of Rs 2,100 to women.