Delhi MCD Election 2017: Sacked AAP minister campaigns for BJP candidate

During the campaign, Sandeep Kumar alleged that AAP indulges in caste-based politics, while adding that “Kejriwal is fooling and misleading Delhi’s people with his broom.”

New Delhi, April 17: Sacked over a sex CD row, the former AAP minister was on Sunday seen campaigning for the BJP.

According to media reports, the former Delhi women and child development minister Sandeep Kumar was doing door-to-door campaigning for the BJP's candidate from Narela, Savita Khatri.

On being asked why he is campaigning for the BJP candidate, Kumar said that Mr Khatri is his close friend, that's why he is campaigning for his wife.

During the campaign, Kumar alleged that AAP indulges in caste-based politics, while adding that "Kejriwal is fooling and misleading Delhi's people with his broom."

Meanwhile, the BJP maintained that they had not officially called Kumar for campaign for their party candidate.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal S Bagga tweeted, "BJP never invited him for campaign. He came along with media. BJP Office Bearers and Karyakartas sent him back from rally venue in few seconds."

BJP never invited him for campaign,He came along with media. BJP Office Bearers & Karyakartas sent him back from Rally venue in few Seconds https://t.co/XP6F3tcmpS

— Tajinder Pal S Bagga (@TajinderBagga) 17 April 2017

AAP legislator Alka Lamba hit out at the BJP for "inviting" Kumar to campaign for its candidate.

"BJP has been defaming AAP by taking Kumar's name on radio (commercials). Now, they are even using him in their campaign," she alleged on Twitter.

BJP denied the charge saying Kumar was not invited by the party for campaigning and alleged that it was the AAP which had "hatched a conspiracy" to defame the saffron party.

"It's a well planned conspiracy of AAP to harm the BJP's poll prospects at Narela," said Delhi BJP vice-president Rajiv Babbar, adding that Kumar was not invited to the rally and he went away after talking to the media.

"AAP volunteers are running a social media campaign to defame our party," said Delhi BJP spokesperson Naveen Kumar. "We have lodged a police complaint in this regard," he added.

Kumar was sacked from AAP in August 2016 following a sex scandal CD involving him had emerged and was widely ciculated in media channels. The nine-minute long CD featured Kumar in a compromising position with two women.

Who is Sandeep Kumar?

Born on July 12, 1980 in Sonepat, Haryana, Sandeep Kumar was brought up in Delhi. He is lawyer by profession. Kumar is married to Ritu Verma, who is a housewife. Once Kumar had said that he respects women so much that he daily touches the feet of his wife.

Kumar and Kejriwal's association dates back to the time when Anna Hazare-led India Against Corruption was launched in 2011.

One of the youngest ministers in Kejriwal cabinet, Kumar began his political career after the formation of Arvind Kejriwal led-AaM Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2012. In 2013, he became an MLA from Delhi Sultanpur Majra assmebly constituency after defeating three-time Congress MLA Jaikishan by a huge margin of votes.

About Sandeep Kumar's sex scandal

It was alleged that Kumar used to sell obscene video clips to an American-based porn website. The investigating police officials had alleged that he was in multiple relationships.

We love all of our employees, including @SandeepKumar

— Pornhub ARIA (@Pornhub) 31 August 2016

One of the woman, who was seen in the video clip, had filed a police complaint in which she alleged that she had gone to Kumar for getting a ration card, where she was given a sedative-laced cold drink. The woman, who is a mother of two children, also claimed that she was sexually assaulted.

The person who allegedly leaked Kumar's objectionable video was his personal secretary Praveen Kumar, who was also questioned. During interrogation by police, Kumar had claimed innocence alleging that Praveen had "tried to blackmail" him and "threatened to harm his public image".

मैं दलित हूँ इसका मुझे खामियाजा भुगतना पड़ रहा है, मेरे खिलाफ साजिश की जा रही है 1/3

— Sandeep Kumar (@SandeepKumar) 1 September 2016

Following the scandal, Kumar was suspended from the primary membership of AAP on August 31, 2016.

On Sept 3, 2016, Kumar was arrested and was taken to Delhi's Tihar jail. Following his arrest, Kumar had defended himself saying he had resigned on his own and that he had been targeted because he was a Dalit.

On November 7, 2016, Kumar was granted bail by a Delhi court which directed him not to tamper with the evidence.

Kumar had sought bail on the ground that probe in the case was over and his custodial interrogation was no longer required.

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