Petitioner in office of profit case seeks protection

New Delhi [India], Jan 21 (ANI): The petitioner in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs' office of profit case on Sunday appealed to the police for him to be given security protection in the wake of the verdict, as the party, he feels, "can go to any extent."

"While I haven't received any threat so far, I feel looking at the history, I will require protection. I have appealed to the Delhi Police on Twitter for the same; the AAP can go to any extent," Prashant Patel, the petitioner, told ANI.

Earlier in the day, President Ram Nath Kovind approved the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs accused of holding the 'office of profit'.

To this, Prashant said, "I am extremely happy that the President has given his approval for the disqualification of the AAP MLAs. They have indulged in fraudulent activities and constantly bent rules. They were given a number of facilities, and profits were taken by party members."

Responding to the AAP's claims of moving the High Court and Supreme Court if necessary, Patel argued that no relief can be given to the MLAs from the courts, as the President's approval is the final one in this case.

"They can go to any court they want, but no relief will be given to them. In case of the Office of Profit matter, the President's ruling is the final one, and cannot be challenged," he said.

The Election Commission on Friday had recommended to the president that 20 AAP MLAs should be disqualified from the assembly.

Following this, 20 AAP MLAs accused of holding the office of profit were disqualified from the Delhi Assembly on Sunday after President Kovind approved the ECI's recommendation in the matter.

Initially, the petition was directed at 21 MLAs; but one MLA, Jarnail Singh, resigned to contest in the Punjab elections last year. (ANI)