New Delhi, 17 September (H.S.): Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra has accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Vijay Kumar, representing Trilokpuri, of committing financial fraud against Deepak, a sanitation worker with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and allegedly driving him to suicide.

Addressing a press conference at the Delhi BJP office on Thursday, Malhotra made public the police FIR registered in the case and alleged that the incident had exposed the “double standards” of the Aam Aadmi Party.

Malhotra alleged that sanitation worker Deepak had been working in the Trilokpuri ward for several years and wanted to build a house for his family. For this purpose, he had sought help from councillor Vijay Kumar. Malhotra said that about a year ago, the councillor assured Deepak that he would help him secure a house, arranged a loan of Rs 15 lakh for him and allegedly had the amount transferred into his own bank account.

Malhotra further alleged that the councillor retained Deepak’s signed cheque book and had been withdrawing his salary through cheques for the past nine to ten months.

According to the BJP leader, Deepak had repeatedly demanded that the councillor either arrange the house or return his money. However, he was allegedly threatened and a 25 per cent commission was demanded from him. Malhotra said that financial distress left Deepak mentally distressed, and that he had told his family members and friends that councillor Vijay Kumar would be responsible if anything happened to him.

The Delhi BJP president said Deepak died by suicide on September 1. He alleged that even after the incident, attempts were made by the councillor’s side to intimidate and threaten the family. BJP leaders came to know about the matter around September 7-8, following which MLA Ravikant, MLA Ravinder Negi, councillor Priyanka Gautam and former Deputy Mayor Raj Kumar Dhillon contacted the family and helped them lodge a complaint with the police.

Malhotra said Delhi Police registered an FIR in the case on September 14 and initiated an investigation. He said further action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation.

He praised the BJP’s four-member team, saying that it had stood by the bereaved family in their efforts to secure justice for the deceased sanitation worker, Deepak.

The Delhi BJP president demanded action against councillor Vijay Kumar from Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Kuldeep Kumar.

Malhotra also questioned Trilokpuri MLA Kuldeep Kumar, asking why he remained silent against councillor Vijay Kumar, who, he alleged, was being named as an accused in the case concerning Deepak’s suicide.

BJP media chief Praveen Shankar Kapoor, MLA Ravinder Negi, MLA Ravikant, councillor Priyanka Gautam, BJP leader Raj Kumar Dhillon and media relations chief Shubhendu Shekhar Awasthi were present at the press conference.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar