Ex-BJP MLA Sirsa to take legal action against ‘baseless’ money laundering accusations via gurudwara committee

NEW DELHI | Updated: 16 November, 2023 4:09 pm IST
Manjinder Singh Sirsa has come under the scanner as claims of money laundering come to the fray

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, is gearing up to file a defamation case against those levying “baseless” accusations of laundering over Rs 1,000 crore through his Delhi Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee.

The decision comes in response to allegations made by a Canadian national, Jagandeep Singh, who claimed in a viral video that Sirsa had accepted over Rs 100 crore through donations.

In a press statement, Sirsa clarified, “A video was uploaded on Social Media in which it was alleged that I deposited around Rs 1000 crore into different bank accounts which were later withdrawn and spent.

“I would like to make it clear that the Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee is a religious committee and the money deposited into it is in a State Bank of India account. The deposited money does not enter any other bank. Through FCRA we have received only Rs 16 crore in its whole term.”

Jagandeep Singh, a self-identified marijuana farmer, alleged that Sirsa dealt only in cash and that transactions were made through donations that did not reflect in the Gurudwara’s records. He claimed the matter was not just about Rs 500 crore but a massive Rs 10,000 crore.

The Canadian national also claimed to be a middleman in contact with Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar’s son, Devendra Singh Tomar. In viral videos, Devendra was spotted allegedly discussing transactions related to a shell company called Morena. Jagandeep asserted that he was in constant communication with Devendra’s wife concerning a “hundred-acre plot.”

 

Although The New Indian sought more information from Jagandeep Singh, but he could not be reached. The news outlet also reached out to BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra for comments, with responses pending.

A highly placed source from Congress President, Mallikarjun Kharge’s office, said to The New Indian that when such accusations surface, the inaction of the government showcases the kind of imbalance that exists between “treating the Opposition and one of their own”.

“When a video had surfaced of just one person claiming, without proof, of the Bhupesh Baghel government being involved in the Mahadev App scam, the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation were quick on their feet. However, this time around when there’s proof of Sirsa and a Union MInister’s son being involved in such a scandal, where is the CBI? Where is the ED?” the source said.

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