AAP Says Not Afraid As ED Raids Kejriwal's Secretary, More Leaders In Money Laundering Probe
The ED has launched raids against senior AAP leaders in a money laundering investigation.
Enforcement Directorate officials on Tuesday conducted raids against AAP Rajya Sabha MP N D Gupta, Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary Bibhav Kumar, and former Delhi Jal Board member Shalabh Kumar among 12 other locations in Delhi. The raids were conducted as part of a money laundering probe against the AAP leaders.
The locations of Bibhav Kumar and former Delhi Jal Board member Shalabh Kumar, and the office of national treasurer and Rajya Sabha MP N D Gupta, are among the other premises that the central agency is currently conducting raids at, reported PTI.
#WATCH | ED raid underway at the residence of AAP MP ND Gupta in Delhi.
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2024
As per sources, ED is conducting searches at nearly 10 locations including the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary among others connected to the Aam Aadmi Party as part of its money… pic.twitter.com/dRdlSJjE6s
Reacting to the ED raids, Delhi Minister Atishi said, "ED raids are going on against AAP leaders and people associated with AAP. Raids are underway at the residence of AAP Treasurer and MP ND Gupta, Arvind Kejriwal's PA, and others. BJP agencies want to suppress our party through central agencies but I want to tell them that we will not be afraid..."
Senior AAP Leader Atishi addressed a press conference today after ED began conducting raids against AAP leaders.
Senior AAP Leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister @AtishiAAP Addressing an Important Press Conference l LIVE #BigEDExposebyAAP https://t.co/TIacjIxWe5
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 6, 2024
Atishi said that the AAP leaders are being threatened for the last two years in the name of the liquor scam. "Someone's house is raided, someone gets summons and someone is arrested...Even after hundreds of raids in two years, ED has not been able to recover even a single rupee. Even after two years, ED has not found any concrete evidence and the court has also repeatedly asked that evidence should be presented..." she said.
#WATCH | Delhi Minister Atishi says "For the last 2 years, AAP leaders are being threatened. In the name of this so-called liquor scam, someone's house is raided, someone gets summons and someone is arrested...Even after hundreds of raids in two years, ED has not been able to… pic.twitter.com/ffKkey0GI3
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2024
Delhi Minister also said that she was supposed to do an 'explosive exposé' on ED at 10 am on Tuesday and the central agency had been conducting raids against AAP leaders and workers since 7 am to stop this exposé and scare AAP.
"Raids are underway at the residences of our leader ND Gupta and the PA of CM Arvind Kejriwal. There are reports that the ED will conduct raids throughout the day against AAP leaders. The BJP-led central government is trying to scare the AAP using the probe agencies," said the AAP leader.
VIDEO | "Yesterday, I had said that I will be doing an 'explosive exposé' on ED at 10 am today. To stop this exposé and scare the AAP, ED has been conducting raids since 7 am in the morning against AAP leaders and workers. Raids are underway at the residences of our leader ND… pic.twitter.com/9CxXPVysQQ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 6, 2024
According to AAP, ED has tampered with the CCTV while recording the testimony of witnesses in the excise policy case. The party has also alleged that the central agency has removed audio from the CCTV footage before submitting it to court. ED officers are allegedly building a case by turning the witnesses into government witnesses and even assaulting them.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari alleged that as the elections are near and PM Modi 's party is losing, the ED, CBI, and Income Tax departments are acting as BJP's frontal orgaisations.
#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP Pramod Tiwari says, "Elections are near and PM Modi's party is losing. ED, CBI, and Income Tax departments are acting as their (BJP's) frontal organizations...Congress will not be scared, we will fight..." https://t.co/qiDvgVA8ga pic.twitter.com/rEGNvuSy3Y
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2024
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut commented on the ED raids and claimed that ED is a branch of BJP and the saffron party trusts ED after RSS. "Who played the game in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, this has been done by ED...Whoever speaks against the BJP, ED will take action against him," Raut said.
#WATCH | On ED searches, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, "ED is an extended branch of the BJP. After RSS, BJP trusts ED. Who played the game in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, this has been done by ED...Whoever speaks against the BJP, ED will take action against him." https://t.co/qiDvgVA8ga pic.twitter.com/GfALKYCXBp
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2024
What is the money laundering case?
The searches are linked to an investigation into alleged irregularities in the DJB tendering process, leading to the arrest of retired Jal Board chief engineer Jagdish Kumar Arora and contractor Anil Kumar Aggarwal by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31. The ED sought a five-day extension of their remand on Monday, claiming the necessity for further custodial interrogation to uncover the "larger conspiracy."
The money laundering case originated from an FIR filed by the CBI, focusing on corruption and bribery charges within the DJB. The CBI FIR alleged that Arora awarded contracts to NKG Infrastructure Ltd. for Rs 38 crore despite the company not meeting technical eligibility criteria. The ED investigation uncovered the alleged submission of forged documents by NKG Infrastructure Ltd. to secure the bid.
Arora is accused of receiving bribes in both cash and bank accounts, and passing these kickbacks to individuals including Bibhav, Shalab Kumar, Pankaj Mangal, and others. The ED asserts that these kickbacks were also directed as election funds to the AAP.
The investigation revealed that the DJB contract was awarded at inflated rates, facilitating the collection of bribes from contractors. Analysis of records by the ED indicates that only about Rs 17 crore of the Rs 38 crore contract value was spent on the tender work, with the remaining amount allegedly siphoned off under the guise of fake expenses, booked for bribes and election funds.
(With inputs from PTI)
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