In a big development, the Enforcement Directorate team is conducting raids at about 12 locations linked to Aam Aadmi Party leaders, and Delhi government officials including the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary as part of its money laundering probe. The ED raids are underway at the residences of former members of Delhi Jal Board Shalabh Kumar, AAP Rajya Sabha MP ND Gupta, and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary Bibhav Kumar among other AAP officials.
Bibhav Kumar was earlier grilled by the ED in February last year amid the allegations of destruction and concealing of evidence, among other things, in the Delhi excise scam.
The raids came hours ahead of Aam Aadmi Party's press conference today. The AAP had claimed that it would expose ED in the press conference. Addressing the press conference, AAP leader and Delhi government minister Atishi said that raids are being carried out to stop the expose. She said that Aam Aadmi Party is not afraid of the raids and ED action. The Delhi government minister claimed that the ED has neither found the cash nor any proof in the last two years in the alleged excise scam case.
"I am going to expose the ED today. Many of the statements that the ED claims to have are fake. Many witnesses have claimed that they gave statements against AAP leaders under pressure and threat from the ED," alleged Atishi. She claimed that the ED is running this case based on fake witnesses and fake statements.
Reacting to the raids, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said that elections are near and PM Modi's party is losing. "ED, CBI and Income Tax departments are acting as their (BJP's) frontal organisations. Congress will not be scared, we will fight."
The latest development came in the wake of the probe agency moving a court in Delhi against the AAP national convenor for skipping its summons for the fifth time in a case linked to the excise policy case. The Enforcement Directorate on February 3 moved the Rouse Avenue Court and filed a complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not complying with the summons issued by the agency in the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case.
ED on February 3 filed a fresh complaint case under Section 190 (1)(a) Cr.P.C. r/w. Section 200 Cr.P.C., 1973 r/w. Section 174 IPC, 1860 r/w. Section 63 (4) of PMLA, 2002 for non-attendance in compliance with Section 50, PMLA, 2002. On February 2, 2024, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal skipped the Enforcement Directorate's summons for the fifth time in connection with the money laundering probe related to irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22 case.
