Swati Maliwal hits out at Kejriwal over corruption after Satyendra Jain's arrest

Swati Maliwal, the former chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), has accused former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of corruption in a sharp attack following the arrest of senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former minister Satyendra Jain.

"He would get corruption done," Maliwal said in a statement on social media, referring to Kejriwal. Her remarks came hours after Jain was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering investigation. Jain, who served as Delhi's Health and Power Minister, resigned from the cabinet after his arrest.

Maliwal, who once shared a close association with the AAP leadership, has been increasingly critical of Kejriwal and the party in recent months. She was denied a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, a decision that reportedly led to a rift with the party's top brass.

In her statement, Maliwal did not provide specific evidence for her allegations but said that "the working style of the current leadership has become a danger to the country's democracy." She also claimed that Jain's arrest is "only the tip of the iceberg."

Jain's arrest marks a significant development in the ED's probe into alleged money laundering linked to suspected hawala transactions. The central agency has accused Jain of being involved in the acquisition of properties through shell companies. Jain has denied any wrongdoing, and his lawyers have stated they will challenge the arrest in court.

Kejriwal has not yet responded publicly to Maliwal's comments. The AAP has previously dismissed her allegations as politically motivated. Party spokespersons have reiterated that Kejriwal runs a "transparent and honest government" in Delhi, and that the ED's actions are part of a "political vendetta" by the central government.

Maliwal's outburst reflects a growing fissure within the AAP, once seen as a cohesive political force. Her departure from the organisation's inner circle, alongside the arrest of a senior minister, adds to the challenges facing Kejriwal as he seeks to expand the party's national footprint.

Political observers note that such internal dissent and legal scrutiny are not new for the AAP. However, Maliwal's direct targeting of Kejriwal's integrity is notable, given her previous prominence as a pro-women-rights activist and her role heading the DCW, a powerful statutory body.

The ED's investigations into AAP leaders have intensified over the past year. Apart from Jain, the agency has questioned and arrested other party functionaries in separate cases. The AAP has accused the central investigating agencies of being used to weaken the opposition, an allegation the government denies.

Maliwal's statement has reignited a political debate on accountability and the credibility of AAP's anti-corruption credentials. The party rose to power on a platform of clean governance and transparency, positioning itself as counter to conventional politics.

As the legal proceedings against Jain progress, the political implications are likely to deepen. For now, Maliwal's words have added a personal dimension to the ongoing institutional and legal battles, placing the focus once again on Kejriwal's leadership and the party's foundational promise.