Leader of India’s anti-corruption party faces fraud allegation

INDIA’S anti-corruption party was doing damage control on Sunday after its leader Arvind Kejriwal was accused of taking 20 million rupees (300,000 dollars) in cash from another minister.

Former water minister Kapil Mishra, who Kejriwal sacked from his Delhi state government on Saturday, alleged he had seen Kejriwal accept cash from another minister.

Mishra told reporters that State Health Minister Satyendar Jain gave the Aam Aadmi Party leader the “illegal cash” in his presence.

Delhi’s deputy chief minister and close associate of Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, dismissed the allegation, saying it did not deserve a response.

“It is unbelievable that Kejriwal would take a bribe,” said Kumar Vishwas, another prominent leader of the party.

“Even his enemy would find it difficult to believe.”

Mishra said he had asked the federal investigation agency and the anti-corruption bureau to investigate the case.

Kejriwal’s party came to power in Delhi after sweeping elections in 2013 riding on a campaign against corruption.

Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress party workers held demonstrations outside Kejriwal’s house demanding his resignation.

“This is a serious allegation and should be immediately investigated,” Congress party’s local unit leader Ajay Maken said.

“Such serious allegations should not be thrown around without evidence,” said Yogendra Yadav, a former Aam Aadmi Party leader who left the party after differences with Kejriwal.