The CBI’s chargesheet reveals that two former Goa MLAs, who ran on AAP tickets in the 2022 Assembly elections, were allegedly paid in cash by a party volunteer for campaign expenses. This claim is part of the ongoing investigation into the Delhi excise policy corruption case.
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DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has revealed that two former Goa MLAs, who contested the 2022 Assembly elections on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tickets, were allegedly paid in cash by a party volunteer to cover their election expenses. This disclosure comes as part of the CBI’s latest chargesheet in a corruption case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.
Allegations of Cash Payments to AAP Candidates
According to the chargesheet, the two ex-MLAs – Mahadev Narayan Naik and Satyavijay Naik – who ran in the Shiroda and Valpoi constituencies, respectively, were approached by Delhi MLA Durgesh Pathak. Pathak, who was the AAP’s in-charge for the Goa polls, allegedly encouraged both candidates to contest under the party banner.
The central agency has claimed that the candidates did not bear the costs of their election campaigns, and instead, the AAP took responsibility for the expenses.
In their investigation, the CBI stated-
“They have also confirmed that the expenditures for the AAP candidates’ campaigns were not covered by the candidates themselves but were paid in cash by the party.”
“South Group” and Alleged Monetary Influence
In a broader context, the CBI also alleges that the AAP received substantial financial backing from the so-called “South Group,” a consortium of liquor distributors and politicians from southern India. This group is alleged to have played a key role in influencing the excise policy of the Delhi government in 2021-22. The CBI’s chargesheet estimates that Rs 90-100 crore was paid by the South Group to secure favorable modifications in the liquor policy.
Particularly concerning is the accusation that Rs 44.5 crore of this amount was allocated for the 2022 Goa Assembly elections. These funds, according to the agency, were used for election-related expenses, including the cash payments made to the AAP candidates in Goa.
Cash Disbursements to Former MLAs
The CBI’s chargesheet includes a specific testimony from Satyavijay Naik, one of the former AAP candidates in Goa. Naik informed the investigators that Chanpreet Singh Rayat, an AAP volunteer and one of the accused in the excise policy case, allegedly gave him cash in multiple instalments for election expenses.
Naik is quoted as saying-
“AAP volunteer Chanpreet Singh Rayat, an accused in the case, is alleged to have paid him Rs.15-17 lakh in cash in installments of Rs.1-2 lakh for election expenses.”
This alleged monetary exchange is a central point of the investigation, linking the Delhi excise policy controversy to the AAP’s involvement in the Goa Assembly elections.
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Arvind Kejriwal’s Role in the Alleged Conspiracy
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has also been named in the chargesheet. According to the CBI, Kejriwal played a significant role in orchestrating the financial support for AAP’s election campaigns.
The agency alleges that Kejriwal personally participated in meetings to assure the candidates that the party would cover their election-related expenses.
As per the chargesheet-
“Satyavijay and Mahadev attended a meeting of AAP candidates called by accused Arvind Kejriwal at Hotel Cidade De Goa, where Kejriwal instructed all candidates not to worry about election-related expenses and to focus solely on campaigning.”
Further implicating Kejriwal, the CBI accuses him of being a part of a “criminal conspiracy” in relation to the liquor policy.
According to the investigation-
“Kejriwal sought monetary support for his party AAP in March 2021, during the formulation of the policy by the GoM chaired by co-accused Manish Sisodia.”
Meeting with Mahadev Naik in Delhi
Mahadev Naik, one of the former AAP candidates, reportedly met with Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi. During this meeting, Kejriwal allegedly assured Naik that all necessary financial assistance for his campaign would be provided by the party.
The CBI’s report noted that Mahadev Naik was assured that-
“all assistance would be provided by the party.”
In response to the CBI’s allegations, the Aam Aadmi Party has categorically denied any wrongdoing and has labeled the accusations as part of a “conspiracy” against the party. The AAP maintains that these claims are politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing the image of the party ahead of critical elections.
An AAP spokesperson said-
“These unfounded allegations are part of a deliberate conspiracy to discredit AAP. We remain committed to advocating for clean governance and transparency.”
