Kejriwal Accuses Modi of Taking Bribe From Birla Group as Guj CM

Reading out from what he said were I-T dept papers, Kejriwal said Modi had received Rs 25 crore as bribe.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal during a special session of the Delhi Assembly on the demonetisation issue on 15 November 2016. (Photo: IANS)

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of receiving bribes while he was the Gujarat Chief Minister from the Aditya Birla Group and sought a judicial probe into the issue. The Delhi Assembly also sought a reversal of the demonetisation move.

He made the accusation during a special session of the Assembly, which passed a resolution urging President Pranab Mukherjee to direct the Union government to immediately roll back "draconian demonetisation".

In the course of his speech, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader dropped a bombshell.

Quoting from what he said were official records, Kejriwal referred to an alleged 15 October, 2013 Income Tax raid on the Aditya Birla group in Delhi during which Rs 25 crore in cash was purportedly seized.

He said officials seized documents, account books, computer records and a laptop belonging to a senior company official that had a message that stated "Gujarat CM-25 Crore (12 done-rest?)".

"It clearly suggested a payment of Rs 25 crore to the then Gujarat Chief Minister," he said.

Kejriwal urged the Assembly to add the allegations against the Prime Minister to the resolution on demonetisation and urged President Mukherjee to order a Supreme Court-monitored probe into it.