Ombudsman to probe charges against IAC members: Kejriwal

New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) India Against Corruption (IAC) leader Arvind Kejriwal Friday announced that a panel of three retired judges would probe allegations of corruption against three key members of his party.

"There have been allegations against Anjali Damania, Prashant Bhushan and Mayank Gandhi," Kejriwal told reporters, adding that the cases against the three would be forwarded to the IAC's "internal Lokpal".

"If the charges against anyone is found true, that person will be told to leave the party," Kejriwal said. The IAC leader has launched a political party whose name will be announced in November.

The members of the IAC Lokpal are A.P Shah, former chief justice of the Delhi High Court, B.H. Marlapalle, retired judge of the Bombay High Court, and Jaspal Singh, retired judge of the Delhi High Court,

Kejriwal said the party would send the cases against Bhushan, Damania and Gandhi to the Lokpal panel Monday.

An IAC statement said: "The Ombudsmen would be requested to expeditiously inquire into these charges and give their report as early as possible and within three months." Right to Information Act (RTI) activist Kishanji Rao has alleged that Mayank Gandhi misused his NGO, Remaking of Mumbai, to help builders.

Gandhi is a nephew of builder Lalit Gandhi, who owns Lok Group. Rao alleged that Mayank Gandhi used his NGO to bag land deals for Lalit Gandhi as well as other builders. The Congress has accused Bhushan of illegalities in land deals in Palampur in Himachal Pradesh.

Damania faces allegations that she bought seven acres of farmland in Karjat in Maharashtra from two farmers and later changed their use to non-agricultural purpose. Kejriwal said IAC would soon announce an email id on which people could send their allegations and evidence against any members of his party.

On retired Mumbai police official Y.P. Singh's allegation that he did not reveal corruption charges against Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Kejriwal said he raised the allegations against Pawar May 25.

Asked if he was selective in targetting politicians on corruption charges, Kejriwal said: "We are selective because we are responsible... We collect the proof before we speak."

My respect for Arvind Kejriwal increases by the day.

He has preempted any attack which these politicians may launch on his organisation through its members.

Now will the government also act in the same way?

Will it launch an enquiry by three retired judges against Robert Vadra, Salman Khurshid, Nitin Gadkari and Sharad Powar?

It better start acting fast to initiate the enquiry as Kejriwal will be having many more corrupt Ministers and politicians up his sleeves.

Remember, he had submitted a list of 14 ministers during his last agitation whom he had asked to be dismissed? You may be sure, he is now busy collecting data on their wrong-doing and will blow the lid at the appropriate time.