In a dramatic turn of events, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on the personal secretary of Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, as well as a former official of the Delhi government. These raids, which occurred just hours before a scheduled press conference by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have sparked controversy and retaliation from the party.
AAP’s Planned Exposé Interrupted
The raids, carried out by the ED, came shortly before the Aam Aadmi Party’s press conference, during which they had vowed to reveal information that would supposedly expose the ED. Atishi, a prominent leader of AAP and a minister in the Delhi government addressed the press conference, asserting that the raids were a blatant attempt to thwart their planned revelation. Despite the raids, Atishi maintained that AAP remained undeterred and unafraid of the actions taken by the ED.
Allegations of Fabricated Evidence
Atishi went on to allege that the ED’s case against AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, was built on fabricated evidence and coerced testimonies. She claimed that many witnesses had come forward, asserting that they had provided statements against AAP leaders under duress and intimidation from the ED. According to Atishi, the absence of any significant findings by the ED in the past two years further discredited their allegations regarding the excise scam case.
Political Backlash
The raids prompted strong reactions from political opponents as well. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari accused the ruling party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of using investigative agencies such as the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department to target political adversaries. Tiwari emphasized that the Congress party would not be intimidated and would continue to challenge such actions.
Legal Actions Against Kejriwal
These developments come in the aftermath of the ED’s legal pursuit of Arvind Kejriwal. The probe agency had recently moved a court in Delhi after Kejriwal failed to comply with a summons issued in connection with the excise policy case. Despite repeated summons, Kejriwal had not appeared before the ED, prompting the agency to file a complaint against him under various sections of the law.
Continued Legal Battles
On February 2, 2024, Arvind Kejriwal once again skipped a summons from the Enforcement Directorate, marking the fifth time he had done so. The case pertains to allegations of money laundering related to irregularities in the Delhi excise policy of 2021-22. In response, the ED filed a fresh complaint against Kejriwal for non-compliance with the summons, signalling the continuation of legal battles between the AAP leadership and investigative agencies.
Amid these escalating tensions and legal manoeuvres, the political landscape in Delhi remains fraught with uncertainty, with both sides fiercely contesting their respective narratives.