Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal had siphoned `70-80 lakhs of India Against Corruption (IAC), headed by Anna Hazare, and diverted the money to his private trust, alleged activist Swami Agnivesh who has parted ways with the anti-graft movement. Mr Kejriwal has demanded evidence for the charges made by Swami Agnivesh.
“Kejriwal siphoned `70-80 lakhs received as public donations during Anna Hazare’s 12-day fast at Ramlila Ground in August into his private trust. It is a sad situation that the movement that began to fight corruption is involved in corrupt practices,” Swami Agnivesh said.
The Magsaysay award winner, he claimed, was refusing to produce the accounts. According to Swami Agnivesh, who was one of the founding members of the IAC, Mr Kejriwal had delayed the operating of an account in the name of IAC despite several directions from the core committee to do so. “Kejriwal instead saw to it that the contributions to the anti-corruption movement are received in the accounts of his private trust — Public Cause Research Foundation (PCRF).” “This is a blow to the millions of people who had great expectations on the movement,” he said.
Reacting to the charges, Mr Kejriwal asked in an SMS: “Did he give any evidence?”
Swami Agnivesh, whose photograph still appears on the IAC website, was ousted from Team Anna in August for his alleged proximity to the government. According to Swami Agnivesh, Mr Hazare had stated at a meeting of the core committee in his village Ralegan Sidhi in September that donations should have been received in a proper account of the IAC. Mr Hazare had directed Mr Kejriwal to publish the accounts by a scheduled date but that has also not been done, Agnivesh added.