In an explosive flip of occasions Monday, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has referred to as for an anti-terror probe into allegations Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal obtained political funding from the banned Sikhs For Justice group based by wished terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun.

Mr Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Occasion hit again swiftly by way of senior chief Saurabh Bhardwaj, who dismissed the decision for a probe by the Nationwide Investigation Company as a “conspiracy” towards the get together and its chief. “LG sir is an agent of the BJP… That is one other large conspiracy towards Chief Minister Kejriwal on the behest of the BJP,” he stated in a short assertion.

The allegations – the newest in a long-running and fierce conflict between the AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Occasion in energy on the centre – come lower than three weeks earlier than the nationwide capital votes within the normal election. In 2019 the BJP received all Delhi’s seven seats.

In an in depth letter to the Union Dwelling Secretary, Mr Saxena referred to a video (which he stated was enclosed with the missive) wherein Pannun declares Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Occasion “obtained a staggering quantity of $16 million in funding from Khalistani teams…” 

“… Kejriwal purportedly promised to facilitate launch of Devender Pal Bhullar, in return for substantial monetary backing from Khalistani factions to Aam Aadmi Occasion…” the LG’s letter stated, citing a grievance from a Hindu non secular physique and tweets by a former AAP employee.

The AAP boss additionally reportedly obtained cash to “espouse pro-Khalistani sentiments”.

Bhullar, a former professor, was convicted within the 1993 Delhi bomb blasts case. In 2001 he was given the demise sentence however that was later commuted to life imprisonment.

Arvind Kejriwal is already in jail over corruption costs linked to the alleged Delhi liquor coverage rip-off that’s being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation. Mr Kejriwal and the AAP have denied all costs, labelling them acts of “political vendetta” by the BJP forward of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Mr Kejriwal has challenged his arrest – he was arrested March 21 – within the Supreme Court docket. He was the third prime AAP chief to be arrested on this case, after ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. Mr Singh is out on bail.

Arvind Kejriwal has argued that his arrest was unlawful since there isn’t any proof linking him to the alleged crime. The highest court docket, which remains to be listening to the case, has stated it can think about bail for Mr Kejriwal so he can marketing campaign for his get together for the forthcoming Delhi election.