Trouble for Aam Aadmi Party! MHA asks Arvind Kejriwal-led party to explain overseas funding, AAP calls it `political witch hunt`

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry on Friday asked the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi to submit details regarding overseas funding to it following suspicion that it might have breached the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

An MHA official said the communication to the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP was part of its "routine" queries sent to a few other political parties regarding overseas funding to them.

The official, meanwhile, said that it was not a show cause notice and a decision on it would be taken only after the AAP submits its reply.

The AAP termed the Centre's move as a clear case of "political witch hunt".

"It is a clear case of political witch hunt. All the agencies at the Centre's disposal have been unleashed against Aam Aadmi Party, its government in Delhi and its ministers, which is very dangerous for democracy," it said in a statement.

The AAP said it has nothing to hide and is ready to face any probe and will fully cooperate with all officials and agencies concerned.

"It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Home Affairs had given us a clean chit before the high court on this issue and now they are sending us fresh notices," it said. 

The AAP had sought donations from the public at the time of inception and a majority of its donors were from outside India. In 2013, the UPA government had also probed the funds of the party but no discrepancies were found.

The AAP has faced accusations by its former members of accepting donations from dubious firms with no credible source of income or legitimate addresses. 

(With Agency inputs)