Crime Branch Reaches CM Arvind Kejriwal's Residence To Serve Notice On MLA Horse-Trading Allegations Against BJP

New Delhi: Challenges for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal escalated as following numerous summonses from the Enforcement Directorate in the alleged liquor excise policy scam case, the crime branch has now visited his residence with a notice from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The notice is related to the Aam Aadmi Party's accusation against the BJP of attempting to buy AAP MLAs.

Crime branch officials are currently stationed outside the residence of AAP convenor to personally deliver a notice to the Delhi CM, although entry has not been granted yet. Yesterday, police officials visited the CM's residence to issue a notice regarding the Aam Aadmi Party's accusation against the BJP of attempting to buy AAP MLAs. Delhi Police has requested the CM to provide evidence in support of the allegations.

Zee News पर बोले बीजेपी नेता रमेश बिधूड़ी, कहा- केजरीवाल को जवाब देना चाहिए, केजरीवाल क्राइम ब्रांच का सामना करें#RameshBidhuri #CMKejriwal #Delhi #CrimeBranch #AAP #BJP | @Chandans_live @rameshbidhuri pic.twitter.com/xOau7fpJWj — Zee News (@ZeeNews) February 3, 2024

Sources in the CM Kejriwal's office however claimed that his office is ready to receive the notice but the officials of Delhi Police's crime branch are not giving him a receiving note for the same.

The sources also claimed that the Delhi Police had brought along media teams just to make a spectacle and malign the Chief Minister's reputation.
Earlier on Friday, apart from Kejriwal, the police officials, seeking evidence, also knocked on the doors of AAP minister Atishi's residence. However, as per sources, both the AAP leaders were not present at their respective residences.

The Aam Aadmi Party has accused the BJP of trying to topple the elected Delhi government through a campaign dubbed "Operation Lotus 2.0".
Addressing a press conference, last week, senior AAP leader Atishi claimed that the BJP has approached several AAP MLAs with bribes and threats in a bid to induce defection.

"BJP has started 'Operation Lotus 2.0', and is trying to topple the democratically elected AAP government in Delhi. 7 MLAs of the AAP have been contacted by the BJP, and have been told, that Arvind Kejriwal will be arrested soon, after which AAP MLAs will be rifted apart. They are in touch with 21 of our MLAs, using whom they aim to topple the Delhi government. Those 7 MLAs have been offered Rs 25 crores each... Operation Lotus is the tactic used by the BJP to come into power in states, where they are not democratically elected... Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are examples," the AAP leader had said.

"In Delhi, they are going to our MLAs and saying that Kejriwal is going to go to jail and then we will call all the MLAs to ourselves and form the BJP government in Delhi, but I want to say that the Aam Aadmi Party is not afraid. Not a single MLA is afraid," she added.

Atishi also revealed that the AAP possesses a recording of one such "Operation Lotus 2.0" conversation, hinting at its potential release if necessary.
"Currently, 7 MLAs have been offered by BJP; we have the recording of one of them and will release it when required," said Atishi. However, the BJP has rejected the AAP's claim of Operation Lotus 2.0.

"Arvind Kejriwal is again lying as he has done since the last seven times. Not once has been able to tell which phone number was used to contact them, who contacted them, and where was the meeting held. he just gives out statements and goes into hiding... His partners are in jail, and he is repeatedly avoiding ED summons because he knows he does not have answers to the ED questions..." said BJP leader Kapil Mishra.

AAP won 62 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly polls. The BJP got just 8 seats, while the rest of the parties including the Congress, drew a blank.