Suicide or Murder? The death of AAP leader Sandeep Bhardwaj in Delhi sparks political strife

The death of Sandeep Bhardwaj, the secretary of the trade wing of the Aam Aadmi Party (Delhi Pradesh), allegedly a case of suicide, has taken on a political slant with the Bharatiya Janata Party claiming it is related to “bribery for a ticket”, while AAP said it shouldn’t be. linked to ticket distribution.

Sandeep Bhardwaj was found hanging at his Rajouri Garden residence on Thursday, police said, adding that he had been pronounced dead at hospital.

Bhardwaj was taken to “Kukreja Hospital” by one of his friends.

“A PCR call was received from Kukreja Hospital, Rajouri Garden at 4:40 PM that a person Sandeep Bhardwaj s/o Naresh Bhardwaj R/0 B 10/15, Rajouri Garden Delhi, 55 years old, is dead brought because of hanging in the house. Crime team has been called to the scene, the police said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed his grief over Bhardwaj’s death and offered his condolences.

“Extremely saddened by the sudden death of Aam Aadmi party worker Sandeep Bhardwaj in Delhi. May God give his soul a place at his holy feet. My condolences to his relatives in this hour of grief and the entire party stands with Sandeep ji’s relatives in this difficult time,” CM Kejriwal tweeted.

BJP’s Amit Malviya, meanwhile, hinted that the suicide could be linked to what he claimed paid a “heavy sum for a ballot for the AAP”.

“It is said that Sandeep Bhardwaj paid a hefty sum for the ticket, but Arvind Kejriwal sold the ticket to the highest bidder. Delhi has been ruined by the Aam Aadmi party and even now families are being broken up,” Amit Malviya tweeted.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said the report of Sandeep Bhardwaj’s sudden suicide has “shocked” the people of Delhi, especially the people of the Moti Nagar gathering area.

“People of Delhi want to know why a person who was doing active political work besides his company for up to few days suddenly died by suicide and hence the police should conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the cause of suicide,” Kapoor said.

AAP chief and deputy CM of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, on the other hand, held a press conference where he said that Sandeep Bhardwaj’s death should not be linked to ticket distribution.

‘Sandeep ji was close to me. It is a pity that he passed away, but it cannot be linked to ticket distribution,” Sisodia said.

BJP’s Manoj Tiwari, who held a parallel press briefing, said he believes it is “not a suicide but a murder”, adding that the evidence does not suggest it is a case of suicide.

“I believe it’s not suicide, it’s murder. Sandeep Bhardwaj was guaranteed a ticket. Evidence doesn’t make it look like suicide. It also comes to know that the ticket for that seat has been sold. Incitement to suicide is also like murder. AAP chief and leadership have committed a sin: claimed Manoj Tiwari.

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