EDMONTON — NDP MLA Brian Mason has sent a letter to Edmonton Police Chief Rod Knecht, asking him to investigate bribery allegations against PC MLA Naresh Bhardwaj.
“This government is arrogant enough that they believe that they can investigate criminal matters and that the public will somehow be satisfied with that, I don’t think the public will be satisfied at all,” said Mason.
(You can read Mason’s letter to EPS below).
On Friday, Bhardwaj stepped down from his post in cabinet because of the bribery allegations.
“I vehemently deny the entire substance of these matters,” Bhardwaj said in a statement. “I have engaged legal counsel and I have filed a Statement of Claim.
“I intend to completely clear my name.”
The PC Party has launched an official investigation into the allegations. In the meantime, Bhardwaj remains a member of the PC caucus.
READ MORE: PC Naresh Bhardwaj steps down as minister amid bribery allegations
Global News has obtained two sworn declarations that allege Bhardwaj bribed supporters of his opponent in the race for the PC nomination in Edmonton-Ellerslie, Balraj Manhas.
In one, Balbir Sidhu claims Bhardwaj offered him $10,000 to say he never signed Manhas’ nomination papers. In the other declaration, Bilal Ali claims he was misled by Bhardwaj to sign a sworn statement against Manhas. Ali said he was not told the statement would be used to damage Manhas’ reputation.
The NDP has been calling on the government to turn those documents over to the police. The PC Party has not done so, and now the NDP will do it themselves.
“The Conservatives consider this to be an internal party matter and refuse to answer any questions on it,” said Mason.
“We are, today, going to turn over this document to the police so that they can consider whether or not an investigation is warranted.”
None of the allegations have yet to be proven.
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