While the BJP shouts ‘Beti Bachao’ from podiums, their own women leaders are battling abuse within. In a shocking development, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj exposed grave charges levelled by a BJP woman councillor against the party’s South Zone Chairman Umed Phogat—including sexual misconduct and a ₹70 lakh bribe to secure his post. As the complaint gathers dust in the Mayor’s office, AAP questions the BJP’s silence, inaction, and complicity in shielding the accused.
During a press conference, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj made a major revelation concerning the BJP. He said, “A woman councillor from the Bharatiya Janata Party has levelled serious allegations against Umed Phogat, the Chairman of BJP’s South Zone. She has accused Umed Phogat of making obscene remarks, passing lewd gestures, and when she resisted, hurling vulgar abuses at her. The woman councillor further stated that Umed Phogat himself admitted to her that he had paid a bribe of ₹70 lakh to his own party to become Chairman of the South Zone.”
Exposing BJP’s desperation in the MCD, he added, “Today, the people of Delhi must have understood why the BJP was so desperate to regain control of the Municipal Corporation. This also explains why former councillor and current Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, used to create chaos in the MCD sessions—why she used to break microphones and other property.”
Pointing to the formal complaint filed by the BJP councillor, he said, “These are not mere allegations made in passing. The BJP councillor has officially submitted a written complaint to Delhi’s Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh. This written complaint was handed over on 18 June.”
On the BJP and the Mayor’s role in handling the case, the AAP Delhi State President stated, “From the information coming in, it appears the Mayor was aware of the matter. Several senior BJP leaders were informed about it yesterday. According to reports published in newspapers, Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh has said that he will speak to both councillors and resolve the matter. But this is not a domestic dispute—it is a serious criminal offence. Making obscene comments to a woman, using lewd gestures, abusing her, and threatening her with death are criminal acts. Why has the Mayor not ensured an FIR against the accused yet?”
Calling out the Mayor’s failure, he said, “The Mayor is supposed to be the guardian of the House. When a woman councillor lodges a written complaint against someone, it is the Mayor’s duty to take immediate action. But instead of acting, BJP’s Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh has tried to suppress the matter.”
“Moreover, the senior BJP leaders who were aware of this incident have not spoken out or demanded any action. Not just the accused, but the Mayor and all BJP leaders who were aware of this matter must also face action for suppressing and covering up the crime,” he added.
Regarding bribery allegations mentioned in the complaint, Saurabh Bharadwaj told journalists, “The complaint also states that Umed Phogat paid ₹70 lakh to his own party to become South Zone Chairman. This too is not a private issue—it is a direct case of corruption. The post of Chairman is a constitutional position, and if someone has paid a bribe to secure it, it is clearly a criminal offence. The matter must be investigated by the CBI.”
Calling for ED action, he said, “₹70 lakh is a massive amount. A case under PMLA should be initiated. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) must investigate where Umed Phogat got such a large sum from, and who in the BJP received this money in exchange for making him Chairman of the South Zone.”
Highlighting the implications of such bribery, Saurabh Bharadwaj warned, “If ₹70 lakh was paid to become a zone chairman, it points to a loot system about to be unleashed. There will be extortion over rooftops, collection over unauthorised constructions, and rampant corruption to earn back that money. Otherwise, why would anyone pay ₹70 lakh for this post?”
Directly questioning BJP leaders, he concluded, “Through the media, I ask BJP’s Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh—why has no FIR been filed in this matter till now? And to BJP’s Delhi State President Virendra Sachdeva, I ask—despite being aware of such serious allegations, why have you not taken any strict action so far?”
