)
A defected volunteer group of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday accused the party of receiving Rs 2 crore through "dubious" means and alleged the party of money laundering.
However, the AAP strongly rejected the claims saying every money it receives is made public on its website.
The group named AAP Volunteer Action Manch (AVAM) claimed that the money was donated to AAP on the midnight of April 15 last year through from four different "dubious companies".
This group was formed by party's dischanted volunteers in August last year.
The AAP said it welcomed a central government probe by any of its agencies.
"Immediately before the elections, they will try to mud sling us. We invite the central government to initiate an inquiry before the elections and bring the real picture before the Delhi citizens. We are the only party which has transparent funding," AAP spokesperson Yogendra Yadav told reporters on Monday.
Yadav explained the AVAM's claim of receiving all these funds at midnight time. "All cheque donations post realisation in banks are uploaded on the website in a batch process during night hours the same day," Yadav said.
"The party is ready for probe through any investigative agency including the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation)," said AAP senior leader Ashutosh.
The party also said in May, the union home ministry in its affidavit submitted in the Delhi High Court "The details of contributions in excess of Rs 20,000 in 2012-13 filed by AAP with Election Commission of India were also collected and scrutinized. The passport numbers as mentioned in the contribution report of Election Commission of India were checked and it was found that they possess Indian passports. Hence, donation received from them is not treated as foreign contribution as per FCRA, 2010."
Ashutosh mentioned a oral submission by the home ministry before the Delhi High Court in December 2014 which said there was no discrepancy in funding of the party.
The party in a statement further alleged "the BJP and some mysterious fronts created by it close to Delhi assembly elections have unleashed a malicious and false propaganda on the funding of the Aam Aadmi Party."
