Rs 2cr given to AAP was donation, not bribe, says trader

A Delhi-based businessman has claimed he had donated Rs 2 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party, rubbishing sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra's allegation that the amount was paid by a shell company.

Mukesh Sharma, a property dealer and tobacco trader, said he had donated the money through a demand draft on March 31, 2014.

"The public support to the AAP at that time was overwhelming and I had donated the money to the party hoping that it will do good for Delhi and for the nation," Sharma said.

Mishra had on Sunday alleged 'massive irregularities' in the funding of the AAP and raised questions about the 'suspicious' donation of Rs 2 crore.

He had also claimed that several shell companies had given money to the AAP and the party knew it.

Asked what took him so long to claim that he donated the money, Sharma said, "I was tired of the allegations that it was given by shell companies."

He added that tax men are probing him since last two-and-half years over the donation made to the party.

A video clip of Sharma's interview by a news channel was also retweeted by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

IMAGE: Sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra shows copies of the complaint before lodging an FIR against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders with the CBI at its headquarters in New Delhi. Photograph: Subhav Shukla/PTI