AAP demands North Corpn Mayor's resignation, says he asked for bribe

The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday has demanded the resignation of North Corporation Mayor Ravinder Gupta alleging that he has been accused of seeking bribe in connection with the construction of a building in Karol Bagh.

The mayor, however, dismissed the allegations and said he would resign “if the CM of Delhi resigns as his one-third cabinet is facing charges of corruption”.

The AAP alleged that the complainant has “categorically” said a bribe was demanded from him. The complainant then approached the north corporation standing committee member Prithvi Singh, a councillor from Congress, and told him that the mayor sought financial favours, the party said.

“The matter has been referred by the standing committee to the municipal commissioner for investigation and framing of charges,” AAP Delhi Convenor Dilip Pandey said.

The mayor said the complainant himself is facing corruption charges. “An FIR has been registered against the builder (complainant) with Karol Bagh police station. The AAP should first check the veracity of the accusation before levelling the same on an elected representative,” Gupta told Deccan Herald. Can the BJP ask its mayor to leave office till the investigation is over, asked AAP.

“People of Delhi want to know, how can a municipal commissioner do a free and fair investigation against a (sitting) mayor. Mayor should resign for the sake of free investigation. The case should be handed over to an independent investigative agency,” Pandey said.

Delhi municipal corporations have been under the corrupt hands of the BJP for the last 13 years, the AAP said.

“These cases are just a tip of the iceberg. Many more skeletons will fall from the cupboard of BJP if free and fair investigation is done on MCD scams.”

“Police should perform their duty and stop being agents of the BJP government at the Centre.”