ED raids Premises linked to AAP MP, Ex ICAI President in Money Laundering Case

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) raided approximately a dozen locations in Delhi on Tuesday in connection with a money laundering case, according to agency sources. The raids involved Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP, Ex-ICAI President Mr. N D Gupta, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s personal secretary Bibhav Kumar, and former Delhi Jal Board (DJB) member Shalabh Kumar.

While sources said the investigation was into the issuance of allegedly illicit DJB contracts for various projects worth at more than Rs.30 crore, the AAP claimed the raids were in response to an exposé against the agency planned by AAP senior leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi. In a press conference held Tuesday morning, Atishi launched a scathing attack on the ED, accusing it of employing intimidation and corruption to quiet the AAP.

Meanwhile, ED sources stated the claims were “baseless and malicious,” and that the agency was considering legal action against Atishi.

Atishi slammed the raids, which came days after the ED filed a complaint against Kejriwal for failing to appear for repeated summons in the Delhi liquor policy case, as blatant attempts by the BJP-led central government and the ED to silence dissent and intimidate the opposition.

In response to the news, Delhi BJP secretary Kapil Mishra stated, “The truth about the Kejriwal gang’s corruption is dirtier and smellier than the Najafgarh drain. The truth about loot and scams is coming to light in every department. Scams in medicine and water are awful. Jail is the only place for corrupt people.”

The Delhi Police Crime Branch served notices to both the AAP convenor and Atishi over the weekend, requesting that they join the inquiry into charges that the BJP was attempting to poach its MLAs. This came after the BJP filed a formal complaint with the Delhi Police on the claims.

On Saturday, a day after he skipped the ED summons for the fifth time, the agency filed a complaint against him in Rouse Avenue court before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra, who will hear the case on February 7.

While the ED has sought to investigate Kejriwal in the matter involving the AAP government‘s now-defunct excise policy, the Delhi chief minister has deemed the summons “illegal”.