Delhi HC seeks centre's response on AAP foreign funding

The Delhi High Court Friday asked the central government and the AAP to respond to a plea seeking registration of a criminal case against party chief Arvind Kejriwal and others for allegedly receiving foreign funds in violation of the law.

A division bench of Justice Pradeep Nangdrajog and Justice Jayant Nath asked the home ministry and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to file their replies by Jan 29.

The application filed by advocate M.L. Sharma said the party and its members have been promoted and fully funded by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the US through various companies and trusts such as Ford Foundation.

The plea named Kejriwal, advocates Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan and party member Manish Sisodia.

He alleged that such foreign support and funding were not allowed in India under the Constitution, election rules as well as by the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010.

"It's a serious criminal effort against India...," he told the court.

He said foreigners interfere in the election and political processes in India and it was unconstitutional and amounted to treason.

The lawyer alleged that Kejriwal and others formed the AAP and held their first political meeting in Chicago, attended by party leader Yogendra Yadav and Kejriwal.

He said 69 party members contested the Delhi assembly elections and spent money received from foreign sources.

The petitioner alleged that Kejriwal and AAP members were promoted and supported by the Ford Foundation.

"Ford Foundation is not a new name in the world... that is the face of CIA and works for US interests via local NGOs and political parties via funding and other help all over the world including in India," the plea said.

It said that on Dec 12, 2013, the party admitted that a full US team has been working from Los Angeles to call Delhi voters over the phone to support the AAP candidate.

It said this was done without any permission from the home ministry.

"The value of the foreign calls is more than Rs.10 crore what respondent No.2 to 5 (AAP and its members) and their election candidates secured jointly for the Delhi elections," the plea added.

The high court had asked the centre to go through the accounts of the AAP to ascertain the source of its funds and check if there was any violation of the law.