The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been served a recovery notice of Rs 163.62 crore for its political advertisements allegedly published in the garb of government advertisements.
AAP has to pay up within 10 days, warns the recovery notice issued by the Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP), or its office will be sealed.
The development comes nearly a month after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena directed the chief secretary to recover Rs 97 crore from the AAP for political advertisements it published in the guise of government advertisements.
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“If the AAP convener, Arvind Kejriwal, fails to do so, all consequential legal action including attachment of the properties of the party shall be taken in a time-bound manner, as per the earlier order of the Delhi LG,” a source said, as reported by PTI.
Out of the total amount to be paid, Rs 99.31 crore is on account of the principal amount incurred on political advertisements till March 31, 2017, while the remaining Rs 64.31 crore is on account of penal interest on this amount.
AAP REACTS
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader, Manish Sisodia reacted and said on Twitter, “Officers of Delhi govt are being misused by LG n BJP, not to do ANY public service work, but to keep targetting elected ministers and ruling AAP. Thats why they wish to continue their control over “services”.”
He further slammed the BJP and said, “Advertisements of CMs of all BJP states are published in the newspapers of Delhi, government hoardings with photos of their CMs have been put up all over Delhi. Will their expenses be recovered from the BJP chief ministers? Is that why the BJP wants to keep the officers of Delhi under unconstitutional control?
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BJP REACTS TO THE NOTICE
After the ruling party in Delhi was served a recovery notice, BJP’s spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla said that “they should pay up instead of playing victim card” and called it “AAP – Aur Advertisement-vali Party”.
He took to Twitter and wrote, “Notice issued to AAP govt for payment of Rs163 cr within ten days should be welcomed. AAP = Aur Advertisement-vali Party. It blew up public money for political advt in violation of SC order, Delhi HC order. They should pay up instead of playing victim card!”
