Delhi CM Kejriwal Faces NIA Probe Over Alleged $16 Million Khalistani Funding

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s legal troubles continue to mount, with new accusations surfacing that his party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), received $16 million in political donations from the banned terrorist organization Sikhs for Justice. Kejriwal, already detained in Tihar jail over an alleged liquor scam, now faces serious allegations of colluding with a proscribed group linked to Khalistani activities.

The Delhi government, prompted by a complaint received by the Lieutenant Governor, has recommended that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) launch an anti-terrorism probe into these claims. According to sources, the complaint asserts that these funds were utilized to support the release of Devinder Pal Bhullar, a convicted Khalistani supporter, and to propagate separatist sentiments associated with Khalistan.

The allegations stem from a letter authored by the World Hindu Federation-India, which alleges that the AAP received substantial donations from Sikhs for Justice between 2014 and 2022. It is noted that in 2014, Kejriwal met with Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the leader of Sikhs for Justice, during a visit to a gurdwara in New York. During this encounter, Kejriwal purportedly assured Pannu of his assistance in securing the release of Bhullar, who was convicted in connection with the 1993 Delhi bombings.

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has dismissed these allegations as politically motivated, citing similar claims made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prior to the 2022 Punjab elections. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah has pledged a thorough investigation into the matter, although the AAP has accused the Lieutenant Governor of partisan bias, alleging that a conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP is targeting Kejriwal.

This situation underscores heightened political tensions in Delhi, with the AAP decrying what they perceive as electoral intimidation tactics by the BJP, which suffered a resounding defeat in the capital’s Lok Sabha elections. Kejriwal’s predicament reflects a broader climate of contention and suspicion within Indian politics, with implications that extend beyond the immediate accusations against him.