Political leaders in Delhi-NCR exchanging old notes for 40% commission, TV sting reveals

Many politicians in Delhi-NCR are allegedly laundering cash, converting black money into white at a hefty commission, a TV channel sting revealed on Tuesday.

Local leaders of various political parties, including the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bahujan Samaj Party (the BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Janta Dal-United (JD-U), were caught on camera at their party offices negotiating terms of black money conversion in a sting conducted by India Today TV channel.

The sting showed BSP leader from Ghaziabad Virendra Jatav, sitting at his party office, asking for a commission of around 35 to 40 per cent.

"It will be done hand-to-hand. You can take it in cash in one hour," Jatav is seen saying in the video clip.

Samajwadi Party leader from Noida Titu Yadav also asked for 40 per cent commission for illicit exchange.

"You will get new notes in place of old ones. Hand to hand exchange will cost 40 per cent commission," Yadav told the India Today reporter with the hidden camera.

The reporter negotiated exchange of Rs 1 crore to Rs 10 crore with different leaders.

Congress leader Tariq Siddiqui offered to introduce the undercover reporter with an NGO which will carry out the exchange.

However, he added he was not sure.

"I was told that he (a handler) has the money. But I am not sure. I will let you know," Siddiqui said.

NCP leader Ravi Kumar said the money will be shown as paid to a fictitious promotion company.

"We will show that we have hired a company as our campaigner in MCD elections," he is seen as saying in the video clip of the sting.

He also introduced the undercover reporter to NCP Delhi unit President Kanwar Pratap Singh, who said the money will be paid in instalments as per "the government policy".

"Only that much money can be withdrawn at once as is allowed by the government," he said.

JD-U's Delhi unit Vice President Satish Saini was also caught on camera asking for commission of 30 to 40 per cent to exchange old notes.