Party funds burgled from former AAP MLA's house

Burglars broke into the house of Bandana Kumari, AAP ex-MLA from Shalimar Bagh, on Tuesday night and allegedly made away with cash, jewellery and cheques.

Of the stolen items, about Rs 5.5 lakh was in cash, Rs 12 lakh in the form of cheques and a little gold jewellery.

The politician said the jewellery and about Rs 90,000 in cash belonged to her while the remaining cash and the about a dozen cheques were collected by the Aam Aadmi Party during its fund-raising campaign in Shalimar Bagh on Monday.

A case has been registered and investigations have started.
However, in the absence of any eyewitness and CCTV, no clue about the identity of the suspects has been obtained yet, said police.

The ex-MLA who is contesting from the constituency on AAP ticket again this time, said she did not specifically suspect anyone.

She told Deccan Herald that most party workers with her were aware that funds were being collected, and there were few volunteers who had accompanied her when she brought the money to her home on Monday night.

But she did not suspect their hand in the crime.

However, she was certain it was the work of someone who knew where she kept the cash and valuables, she said.

The burglars allegedly broke open a gate and two doors before they could reach the almirah where the booty was kept.

The almirah had a locker inside in which there was another safe in which the cash and valuables were kept, claimed Bandana.

“By the time, I was free from meetings, banking hours were over. So I thought I would deposit the money and submit the cheques on Wednesday,” she said as the reason behind keeping the party fund money at her home.

Bandana suspected that the burglary took place any time between 8.30 pm and 10.30 pm.

“My husband, son and I returned home at 11 pm to find the locks broken. We then informed police upon which a case was registered,” she said.