On row over conman Sukesh Chandrashekar, Arvind Kejriwal cites Morbi; BJP says ‘AAP conned’

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday rubbished claims linking conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar – accused in a ₹200 crore fraud – to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as he called them a tactic to deflect attention from the bridge collapse incident in Gujarat’s Morbi where over 130 people, including more than 40 children, have died.

As he sharpened attack on the ruling BJP in Gujrat, BJP leader Sambit Patra hit out at the AAP, saying that “a conman was conned”.

“On Sunday, the Morbi incident happened. Suddenly today, the bridge collapse incident was no longer being discussed on the TV channels and it was all about Sukesh Chandrashekar. Does it not seem like a tactic to distract from the tragedy?” Kejriwal asked during a briefing. “What can be more blatant than this? Nearly 150 people have died but all channels are discussing a conman.”

Minutes later, the BJP’s Sambit Patra held a press conference. “A conman has been conned. By whom? The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Satyendar Jain.” Referring to Sukesh as a “thug”, Patra said: “He is an accused in 15 cases. A letter has revealed that Jain and the conman are friends. He has said in the letter that he has been associated with the party since 2015 and that he was told that he would established as a leader in the South.”

Patra said the conman – in his letter – claimed that he paid ₹50 crore to the AAP. “In 2017, as per Sukesh Chandrashekar, when he was in Tihar, Jain met him. In 2019, Jain’s secretary told him that protection money of ₹2 crore a month would be needed.”

While the conman was running a syndicate from inside the jail, Patra alleged, the AAP was running a syndicate from “outside the jail.”

This is the latest flashpoint in the AAP vs BJP standoff as Gujarat warms up for assembly elections.