New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday apprehended Deepak Singla, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, following searches at multiple locations across Delhi and Goa. The action is reportedly connected to an alleged money laundering case linked to a bank fraud amounting to approximately Rs 150 crore.
The ED's operation targeted premises associated with Singla, with raids confirmed in both the national capital and the coastal state of Goa. Singla faces accusations of defrauding the Oriental Bank of Commerce, alongside family members, in a scheme involving a significant bank loan default. ==
Atishi, a prominent AAP figure, has publicly denounced the ED's actions, asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is employing the agency to "steal organisational data" and intimidate AAP workers. She framed the raids as a continuation of what she termed BJP's political attacks, following similar actions in West Bengal and Punjab.
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"Today, the people of Goa are seeing how, in the last 15 years, the BJP has destroyed Goa," stated Atishi, alleging that the BJP, facing growing AAP popularity in Goa, has deployed the ED as a "loyal foot-soldier."
The searches reportedly extended to the residences of AAP volunteers in Goa, with some reports indicating the presence of numerous ED vehicles at these locations. Singla, who previously contested a Delhi assembly seat, has become a focal point in this unfolding scenario.
Historical Parallels and Political Accusations
Atishi's accusations echo earlier claims she made regarding the BJP's alleged use of central agencies against political rivals. She has previously implicated the BJP in attempting to destabilize the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal by targeting individuals associated with political consultancy firms. The current ED actions are occurring against a backdrop of significant political competition in Goa, where the BJP, Congress, and AAP are expected to be key contenders for the state's assembly seats.