New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was served a notice on Wednesday to deposit Rs 163.60 crore within the next 10 days for its political advertisements published allegedly in the guise of government advertisements in 2016-17 at the expense of the public exchequer.
The Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP) of the Delhi government has alleged that the AAP’s advertisements violated the Supreme Court guidelines adding that “necessary action” would be taken as per the law if the money was not deposited in the state exchequer within the given time period.
According to sources, the DIP might seal the AAP’s headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg in case the party fails to deposit the amount. “The recovery notice issued by the secretary (Information and Publicity) makes it mandatory for AAP to pay the amount within 10 days. If the convener of AAP fails to do so, all consequential legal action, including attachment of properties of AAP, shall be taken,” said an official.
While no immediate reaction was available from AAP, the party earlier accused Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of giving the recovery order at the behest of the BJP and claimed that he had no power to issue such a directive. Following the orders on December 19, DIP had served a notice on AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal for the recovery of Rs 163.62 crore. Officials said the amount included Rs 99.31 crore as principal and Rs 64.31 crore towards penal interest.
Sources further said the government’s Directorate of Audit had also deputed a team to conduct an audit of all such political advertisements published by DIP and its advertising agency, Shabdarth, after March 31, 2017.
