Raghav Chadha being detained by Delhi Police: (Photo: AAP) Raghav Chadha and Atishi were detained on Sunday morning by the Delhi Police ahead of a planned protest by the party outside Home Minister Amit Shah and Anil Baijal’s residence over alleged embezzlement of funds by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation. Atishi, however, was released later.
The party’s request to stage dharnas was rejected by the Delhi Police due to Covid-19 protocols. DCP (New Delhi) Eish Singhal said, “In view of the DDMA guidelines, all public gatherings are prohibited to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Moreover, section 144 of CrPC has been in force in New Delhi district. We have considered the (AAP) request but rejected it.”
AAP MLA Atishi and some councillors from the party arrived at the LG residence and were not allowed to cross the barricades. They resorted to chanting slogans, demanding a CBI inquiry into the case, following which they were detained by the police. “We have written to LG & have not been able to get an appointment. Who is the LG trying to protect?” Atishi asked.
I went to meet @LtGovDelhi with @AamAadmiParty Councillors to ask him to order a CBI enquiry into the ₹2500 crore scam in North MCD. Instead of meeting us @LtGovDelhi got @DelhiPolice to detain us!
Who is @LtGovDelhi protecting? Why does he not want to order a CBI enquiry? pic.twitter.com/JBpAYVh8iU
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) December 13, 2020
Chadha, however, questioned why the BJP leaders were allowed to protest outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. Municipal corporation mayor’s, along with other BJP members have been protesting outside the CM house for a week, demanding funds that they say are owed to them. “BJP leaders have been protesting outside the CM house for several days. It seems like Section 144 and the pandemic guidelines don’t apply to them,” Chadha said.
Raghav Chadha being taken to police station. (Photo: AAP)
On Friday, Health Minister Satyendar Jain had alleged in a press conference that the North MCD had misappropriated around Rs 2,400 crore funds given by the South MCD — a claim that the North MCD mayor had denied. The Delhi government has ordered a probe into the issue.
Raghav Chadha at police station. (Photo: AAP)
Atishi said: “We demand that there be a CBI inquiry for this loss to the public exchequer. There must be stringent action against the culprits, because it is with this Rs 2,400 crore that doctors, staff, nurses, teachers, our Covid warriors could have been paid salaries. We will continue the sit-in until a CBI inquiry is ordered into the issue.”
