Congress claims sting shows Delhi minister link to graft

Accusing chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of corruption, the Congress on Tuesday released audio and video tapes of person associated with city food and environment minister Imran Hussain’s office allegedly demanding money from a man for constructing a house. The accused is allegedly heard saying that the money was to be given to the minister.

In the video, Mr Hussain’s close associate Hammad was seen convincing builder businessman Mohd. Qasim to pay a bribe of Rs 30 lakh for “construction of his own house.” He is shown promising that neither the police nor the MCD would touch the plot. The Congress has four clips of the alleged extortion. The area’s junior engineer is also shown to be a part of the ring urging Mr Qasim to pay up. The Congress sting video showed Mr Hussain’s close associate Hammad purportedly asking for a bribe of Rs 30 lakh.

Shockingly, Hammad was heard saying he extorts money for the minister. While convincing Mr Qasim, he was also heard saying that the minister had spent crores to contest the elections. Mr Qasim claimed that he had paid the minister Rs 5 lakh, but still the MCD had issued him a showcause notice. The Congress said Mr Hussain’s brother was also part of the attempted hustle. The party also played an audio in which the minister’s brother Fukran Hussain was heard asking the complainant when he was going to deliver goods to him. Another audio clip revealed the area’s junior engineer saying that the minister himself had complained against Mr Qasim. He too was heard saying the money should be given to the minister.

AICC spokesman and Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said Mr Kejriwal has compromised on the main plank on which the AAP was founded and that half of the Delhi Cabinet was under a cloud. In the tapes, the man purportedly extorting money is seen saying that a lot of money was spent on getting the Cabinet berth.