Raj Niwas sources said that Kejriwal allegedly received political funding from banned terrorist organisation ‘Sikhs for Justice’. AAP alleged that the NIA probe is another conspiracy at the BJP behest

File photo of Lt. Governor V.K. Saxena with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Lt Governor has recommended an NIA probe against the CM for allegedly receiving political funding from banned terrorist organisation ‘Sikhs for Justice.’ | Photo Credit: PTI

By SATVIKA MAHAJAN
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V. K. Saxena recommended a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday. The recommendation is based on a complaint made by the World Hindu Federation India (WHFI) which alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received political funding from the banned organisation ‘Sikhs for Justice’.

This comes a day before Mr. Kejriwal’s bail hearing. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case in the Delhi excise policy case and has been in judicial custody in Tihar jail since then.

Responding to the probe recommendations, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “This is another big conspiracy against Mr. Kejriwal at the behest of the BJP.” The BJP is in panic due to fear of losing all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, he said.

Sources in Raj Niwas said the WHFI complaint said Mr. Kejriwal had allegedly received $16 million from extremist ‘Khalistani’ groups for espousing ‘Pro-Khalistani’ sentiments. The complaint refers to a video released by the U.S.-based pro-Khalistan advocate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in which he has alleged that AAP received $16 million from Khalistani groups between 2014 and 2022.

This story was originally published in thehindu.com. Read the full story here.