ED Raids AAP Leaders; Atishi Slams Agency for 'Intimidation', Calls for Transparency

Delhi: In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids on approximately a dozen locations in Delhi connected to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP N D Gupta, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary Bibhav Kumar, and former Delhi Jal Board (DJB) member Shalabh Kumar. 

The Aam Aadmi Party responded to the ED's actions, asserting that the raids were in retaliation to an exposé against the agency, scheduled by AAP senior leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi. During a press conference on Tuesday morning, Atishi launched a scathing attack on the ED, accusing it of intimidation tactics and corruption in an attempt to suppress the AAP.

Atishi denounced the raids as blatant efforts by the BJP-led central government and the ED to stifle dissent and intimidate the opposition, particularly in light of the ED filing a complaint against Kejriwal for non-compliance with summons related to the Delhi liquor policy case.

Highlighting what she perceives as a lack of progress in the ED's investigations, Atishi pointed out three critical factors that cast doubt on their probes. She criticised the agency for its failure to recover laundered money despite numerous raids, the absence of substantial evidence even after two years of investigations, and raised concerns about the reliability of witness statements, citing instances of coercion and threats.

Atishi also accused the ED of tampering with evidence, alleging the deletion of audio footage from CCTV recordings of interrogations. She said it was revealed because an accused had applied for access to his interrogation footage. Citing a 2020 Supreme Court order mandating investigating agencies, including the ED, to conduct interrogations under CCTV cameras, Atishi questioned the agency's transparency and accountability.

She called for transparency and urged the ED to reveal the truth behind the alleged deletions, stating, "My first question to the ED: what or who are you trying to hide by deleting all the audio? My second question: will you be able to produce the audio of any interrogation you have conducted for this case from the last 1.5 years?"

Atishi announced that AAP had filed an application at the ED and CBI special court, demanding audio and video evidence from the past 1.5 years during interrogations be produced. “I challenge the ED to bring this evidence forward before the nation,” she said.