Delhi Police serves notice to Kejriwal over "MLA poaching claims", seeks reply within 3 days

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police Crime Branch officials on Saturday issued notice to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with Aam Aadmi Party's allegation against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "of trying to buy AAP MLAs" and has sought a reply from the AAP supremo within three days, sources said.

A team of Delhi Police Crime Branch officials had arrived at the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi.

Earlier, Police officials on Friday also came to serve notice in connection with the Aam Aadmi Party's allegation against the BJP "of trying to buy AAP MLAs" and asked him to provide evidence. 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". 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 said.

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.