New Delhi: As trouble continues for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his party raised concerns on Saturday regarding alleged connections between a witness in the excise policy case and the BJP and challenged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to thoroughly investigate the matter.
Addressing a press conference, senior AAP leaders and Delhi Ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, whose son Raghava Magunta Reddy was arrested by the ED in connection with the excise policy case, has been fielded by the BJP's ally TDP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Atishi alleged that Arvind Kejriwal's arrest was “primarily based on four statements”. The first statement was from C Arvind, who served as Manish Sisodia’s secretary and provided him with documents related to the excise policy. However, his statement could not link Arvind Kejriwal in any monetary transactions, she said.
“The second statement was from Sharath Chandra Reddy, who donated Rs 55 crore to the BJP through Electoral Bonds after his arrest. The third and fourth statements were from Raghav Magunta Reddy and M Srinivasulu Reddy respectively. M Srinivasulu Reddy, a Member of Parliament, met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and requested land for his trust,” Atishi said.
Atishi challenged the ED, questioning its independence, to thoroughly investigate and document these alleged connections. She further accused the BJP of having ties with the “South Lobby” of liquor traders.
“I challenge the ED if it is an independent agency to bring in record this connection and probe it,” Atishi said.
Atishi also accused the ED of subjecting witnesses to "torture" until they provided statements against Kejriwal. Referring to the interrogation of Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot by the ED in the excise policy case, she stated that even if they were summoned or arrested, AAP leaders were not afraid of going to jail. She condemned Kejriwal's arrest as an "assault on democracy" and claimed that the entire Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance bloc was against it.
"They may summon me, Bharadwaj and other AAP leaders and arrest us but we are not scared of going to jail,” Atishi said.
Meanwhile, AAP's national spokesperson, Priyanka Kakkar, took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that PM Modi was attempting to eliminate Opposition voices by sending them to jail in order to secure a top position in a lone political race.
The BJP has not yet responded to AAP's allegations.