Rajendra Kumar 'just an excuse' to target Arvind Kejriwal: AAP

Slamming the Centre over Kumar's arrest, the party said Modi is 'scared' of losing the upcoming elections in Goa and Punjab

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday dubbed the allegations being levelled against Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar as baseless and said the main target here is Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Slamming the Centre over Kumar's arrest, AAP leader Ashutosh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is 'scared' of losing the upcoming elections in Goa and Punjab and is, therefore, targeting Kejriwal.

"The main target is Arvind Kejriwal in this (Rajendra Kumar's arrest). They want to paralyze the government. You are targeting all the officers without permission, not allowing anyone to grow.. Rajendra Kumar is just an excuse, the main target is Arvind Kejriwal," Ashutosh told ANI.

"They are not allowing the AAP to function in Delhi. Modi ji is scared that if the AAP wins in Punjab and Goa then there will be no stand of the BJP in this country. The fear is leading them to do all this," he added.

The AAP leader dared the BJP-led Centre to produce all evidences against the Principal Secretary.

"If they have evidence against Rajendra Kumar, then where were these evidences from the past six months?...How come all of a sudden there is evidence? They are putting baseless allegations," he said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) yesterday arrested Rajendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and a trusted and close aide of Kejriwal, on charges of alleged corruption.

According to CBI sources, Kumar has been charged with abusing his official position to award contracts to M/s Endeavour Systems Pvt. Ltd. and securing government tenders worth Rs. 9.5 crore between 2007 and 2014 for the company.

Kumar has been booked under Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to CBI sources, Kumar has emerged as the kingpin of the 50 crore scam which first started activity in 2006.

Kumar had moved an appeal before a special court in March this year seeking the release of his laptop, iPad and cash seized by the CBI.

A trial court had in April also ordered the de-freezing of two bank accounts of M/s Endeavour Systems Pvt. Ltd.

The Delhi High Court had then stayed the trial court's order allowing for de-freezing of accounts of M/s Endeavour Systems Pvt. Ltd.

The CBI had in December last year raided Kumar's office at the Delhi Secretariat in connection with this case.