AAP says BJP ‘offering money’ to MLAs in Punjab; police files FIR

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, with some AAP MLAs, complained to DGP demanding probe against BJP

The Punjab Police on Wednesday registered a case after the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) complained to the State DGP, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of an attempt to poach its MLAs.

State Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema along with party MLAs had met DGP Gaurav Yadav over the issue and demanded a thorough probe.

The ruling party had earlier said at least its 10 MLAs were approached by BJP people with a offer of ₹25 crore each in a bid to topple the State government.

An official spokesperson of the State Police said, "Following a complaint filed by some MLAs of the state, the Punjab Police registered a first information report under Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 171-B and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)." The spokesperson added, "Police registered an FIR on prima facie basis and the investigation has been transferred to the Vigilance Bureau as per standard guidelines."

Earlier in the day, the Opposition Congress had dared the ruling party to get the issue probed by an independent agency under the supervision of the High Court. A senior BJP leader also sought a CBI investigation into the accusations, describing the claims as a "most ridiculous joke".

Mr. Cheema was accompanied by party MLAs Budh Ram, Kulwant Pandori, Manjit Singh Bilaspur, Dinesh Chadha, Raman Arora, Narinder Kaur Bharaj, Rajneesh Dahiya, Rupinder Singh Happy, Sheetal Angural, and Labh Singh Ugoke to the DGP's office on Wednesday.

Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Mr. Cheema said to "expose the unholy tactics" of the BJP, he and AAP MLAs gave a formal complaint along with "all proofs" to DGP Yadav for a fair probe into the matter.