PC Naresh Bhardwaj steps down as minister amid bribery allegations

WATCH ABOVE: Accusations of bribery have forced Naresh Bhardwaj to step away from his cabinet post. As Tom Vernon explains, the MLA maintains his innocence.

Note: This article was originally posted March 12, and updated March 13 with news that Bhardwaj stepped away from his ministerial post.

EDMONTON — A Progressive Conservative cabinet minister is stepping away from his position after allegations arose of bribery during the nomination process in his riding.

In Question Period Thursday, NDP leader Rachel Notley raised the allegations against Naresh Bhardwaj, associate minister of persons with disabilities.

She demanded Bhardwaj be removed from cabinet until an investigation is complete, and asked that a special prosecutor be assigned to ensure transparency.

“The allegations themselves are very, very serious, they need to be investigated,” Notley told reporters. “They amount to a breach of the Criminal Code, and we shouldn’t necessarily have someone sitting in the cabinet while they’re under investigation.”

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. (See both declarations below).

In a statement released Friday afternoon, Bhardwaj said he was aware of the allegations made against him.

“I vehemently deny the entire substance of these matters,” he said. “I have engaged legal counsel and I have filed a Statement of Claim. I intend to completely clear my name.”

Premier Jim Prentice addressed the allegations in a Friday statement, saying he spoke with Bhardwaj, who then decided to “step away” from his role as associate minister “while he works to clear his name.”

“I have been made aware that Mr. Bhardwaj has filed a statement of claim against the individual making a criminal allegation against him, and that an investigation has been initiated by the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta,” said Prentice in the statement. “While these processes take their course, Mr. Bhardwaj will remain a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus.”

In his statement, Bhardwaj said he will fully cooperate with the PC party investigation.

“I am a proud public servant and I know that my effectiveness is based on the trust I have built with my constituents, my Cabinet colleagues and all of my colleagues in the legislature,” said Bhardwaj.

Also Friday, Notley said the move by Bhardwaj to step down was appropriate. However, she added that “by relying on the PC party to investigate members of the PC party, Mr. Prentice if failing to ensure that the interests of Albertans come before the interests of the PC party.”

“This is not merely an internal party matter and Mr. Prentice’s failure to recognize that is troubling,” she said. “We are calling on Jim Prentice to direct his party to forward all documentation and evidence to the RCMP so they can consider these allegations. Investigating a potentially criminal matter themselves, behind closed doors, is not adequate.”

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

Manhas said the PC party phoned him two days before the vote in Edmonton-Ellerslie and told him to bow out due to irregularities with his nomination papers.

“There (was) some kind of affidavit against me and the party nomination committee wants (me) to pull out of the race, withdraw voluntarily, or the party would call a press conference right away and disqualify me from this race,” Manhas said.

Manhas said he hopes they clear him of any wrongdoing.

“Our team of volunteers and my supporters are expecting a re-nomination. They know that we never did anything wrong.”

Declaration

 With files from Global News reporter Erika Tucker