Delhi L-G Orders AAP To Refund Rs 97 Crore Of Public Money Spent On Ads Promoting Kejriwal

Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal has asked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to pay Rs 97 crore of the public money the Arvind Kejriwal government spent on advertisements violating guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.

The L-G has also ordered an inquiry into the spendings on advertisements by the Arvind Kejriwal government and the party. Orders have been issued to the chief secretary to investigate the spending and fix responsibility. Baijal has also ordered AAP to reimburse the money within a month.

“The Lt governor has now directed the chief secretary to get the amount of Rs 97 crore from Aam Aadmi Party,” a statement released by his office read.

The move came after a Centre appointed committee, headed by former chief election commissioner B B Tandon, had said in its report that the Delhi government had spent exchequer money on advertisements promoting Kejriwal. Following this, a Comptroller and Auditor General had revealed that the AAP government spent Rs 29 crore in releasing advertisements outside Delhi.