Arvind Kejriwal sacks Social Welfare Minister Sandeep Kumar over alleged sex tape

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday sacked social welfare minister Sandeep Kumar after receiving an “objectionable” CD in which he was purportedly shown in a compromising position with a woman. Sources said that the decision to sack Mr Kumar, who represents Sultanpur Majra constituency, was taken at a hurriedly convened Political Affairs Committee attended by top AAP leaders at Mr Kejriwal’s residence and the announcement was made by the Delhi CM himself through a tweet.

“Received ‘objectionable’ CD of minister Sandeep Kr. AAP stands for propriety in public life. That can’t be compromised. Removing him from Cabinet wid immediate effect,” the Delhi CM tweeted late in the evening.

Sources said the CD purportedly showed Mr Kumar, also Women and Child Development Minister, in a compromising position with a woman. “The CD came to us half-an-hour back. We saw the CD and took the decision to sack him immediately. AAP has zero tolerance for crime and corruption,” deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said.

“We will not tolerate any such acts. We have 67 MLAs. If anyone, including the chief minister, is found involved in any wrongdoings, immediate action will be taken as AAP is different from other parties,” Mr Sisodia added. Reacting to the development, Delhi BJP said Mr Kejriwal must resign accepting moral responsibility for picking up the morally corrupt MLA in the Cabinet. “He must be rewarded for handing over Delhi’s governance to people with corrupt values. This has never happened in any government,” Delhi BJP leader Vijender Gupta said.

DPCC president Ajay Maken too attacked the AAP, saying three of the six ministers who were initially inducted were caught for alleged “Fake degree, corruption, moral turpitude. But who chose them Why aren’t they expelled from Party ,” he asked in a tweet.

Another Congress leader, Mukesh Sharma, also hit out at AAP and sought the resignation of the Delhi chief minister. “Prior to this, other AAP ministers have also been removed, and now this scandal only shows, that it’s the story of Ali Baba and forty thieves, as there are several others in AAP government, against whom cases are due. This government is a corrupt and Arvind Kejriwal should immediately resign from his post on moral grounds,” he said.