New Delhi: Delhi Police late on Wednesday filed a case after a vehicle marked “Punjab government” was spotted near Punjab Bhavan on Copernicus Marg, with cash, liquor, and Aam Aadmi Party pamphlets in it, according to an official.
The Flying Squad team intercepted the vehicle with a Punjab number plate in the New Delhi district, a report by the news agency PTI stated.
The Flying Squad is responsible for attending to breaches of the Model Code of Conduct, as well as handling complaints related to threats, intimidation, the movement of anti-social elements, liquor, arms, ammunition, and large sums of money meant to bribe voters.
In a statement, the Delhi Police said that on searching, they discovered cash, several liquor bottles, and Aam Aadmi Party pamphlets inside the vehicle. Legal proceedings have been initiated in this matter, and a case is being lodged at the Tilak Marg police station accordingly.
What did the Punjab DIPR say?
In a statement, the Punjab DIPR stated that the vehicle is registered under the name of Maj. Anubhav Shivpuri, who was assigned to the Army Dental College in Pathankot three years ago.
Shivpuri is apparently a permanent resident of Maharashtra’s Khadki. “Moreover, the registered vehicle model registration number PB35AE1342 is a Ford Eco Sport of make year 2018 but the actual vehicle apprehended by the police belongs to the Hyundai Creta series,” the Punjab DIPR pointed out in its statement.
It was also stated that the vehicle’s number plate is forged and counterfeit. The Punjab DIPR clarified that after reviewing its records, it was established that no such vehicle is owned or rented by the Punjab government. “The apprehended vehicle does not belong to Govt of Punjab at all,” the statement was mentioned by news agency ANI.
BJP lambasts AAP
Reacting sharply, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva voiced his shock over the incident and said Rs 10 lakh cash, liquor and AAP election material was seized from the alleged ‘Punjab government’ car. Sachdeva added, “Till now, we thought Arvind Kejriwal institutionalised corruption in Delhi government, polluted Yamuna and Delhi’s air but today we understand that he has polluted Delhi’s political system too.”
Sachdeva alleged that in Kejriwal’s case, it started with liquor and now it involves money. He was quoted as saying by ANI that Arvind Kejriwal is losing the Delhi elections, so now the focus is on liquor and money.
The Delhi BJP chief alleged that Kejriwal was already a liquor businessman but the money from ‘Sheesh Mahal’ is now being used in Delhi assembly elections… “We have appealed today that strict checking and search should be done on all borders of Punjab and Delhi because the Punjab government and Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party are smuggling liquor and money in government vehicles.”
Satish Upadhyay, BJP candidate from Malviya Nagar assembly constituency, claimed that Kejriwal’s party wanted to buy public’s votes by distributing liquor. “This is the culture of AAP…very shameful.” BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said that the recovery from the vehicle exposes AAP’s “disgusting face” in Delhi.
AAP rubbishes allegation
Stoutly defending her party, Priyanka Kakkar, AAP national spokesperson, said that the charges levelled against AAP is “hilarious”. She pointed out that the Punjab government has also issued a clarification that no car with this number plate belonged to the Punjab government.
She added that the car never entered Punjab Bhawan. “The registration number of the vehicle is of a Ford Ecosport car… The owner of the vehicle is from BJP-ruled Maharashtra, but they are showing that the owner of the vehicle is from Delhi… BJP will lose the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.”
