The political landscape in Delhi took a dramatic turn as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on the premises of Delhi’s Labour Minister Raaj Kumar Anand on Thursday morning. This operation transpired ahead of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s scheduled questioning by the ED, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigations involving Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders.
The ED’s inquiries into Arvind Kejriwal are linked to a money laundering probe associated with Delhi’s liquor policy, which has already led to the arrests of prominent AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. In the backdrop of these investigations, the ED’s actions at Raaj Kumar Anand’s premises are a result of a charge sheet filed by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
According to sources, the charge sheet against Raaj Kumar Anand includes allegations of false declarations in imports, leading to customs evasion exceeding ₹7 crore, along with allegations of involvement in international hawala transactions.
Raaj Kumar Anand, an MLA from Patel Nagar, has played a significant role in Delhi’s governance. He was entrusted with the education and health ministries following the resignations of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain earlier this year. Subsequently, the health portfolio was assigned to Saurabh Bharadwaj, while education responsibilities were transferred to Atishi.
The recent raids by the ED come amidst a series of arrests involving AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and AAP MP Sanjay Singh, in connection with various cases. Kejriwal’s questioning by the ED today is part of the ongoing inquiry into the Delhi liquor policy, marking a continuation of his earlier summons by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in April, during which he was questioned for nine hours.
As the political landscape in Delhi remains tense and polarized, the Aam Aadmi Party has expressed concerns that Arvind Kejriwal may face arrest. In response, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that if Kejriwal were to be arrested, the party and the Delhi government would continue to function from jail, underlining the gravity of the situation.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha raised concerns about the possibility of other opposition leaders being targeted and imprisoned ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, potentially affecting prominent figures such as Hemant Soren, Tejashwi Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, MK Stalin, and Pinarayi Vijayan.
The developments surrounding the ED’s raids, Kejriwal’s questioning, and the ongoing investigations have heightened political tensions in the region, casting a shadow over the future of AAP and its leadership.
Sources By Agencies
