The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has rallied behind its Okhla MLA, Amanatullah Khan, following a high-profile raid conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at his residence. The raid, part of an investigation into alleged financial irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board, has been met with strong criticism from the party, which dismissed the ED's actions as politically motivated.
On Monday, AAP leaders took to social media and public forums to denounce the ED?s raid, accusing it of being a tool of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to target political opponents. Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia expressed outrage, claiming that the ED's actions are part of a broader effort to stifle dissent against the BJP. ?The ED is suppressing every voice raised against the BJP. Those who do not get suppressed are arrested and put behind bars,? Sisodia stated.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh also joined the criticism, asserting that there is no substantial evidence against Khan. Singh described the raid as an example of both the Modi government's alleged dictatorship and the ED's ?hooliganism.? He further defended Khan, pointing out that the case in question, dating back to 2016, had previously been investigated by the CBI, which found no economic crime. The ACB, after an arrest in 2020, had also failed to establish corruption, leading to Khan?s bail.
Singh detailed the series of investigations, noting that despite multiple probes, including raids in 2023 and a lengthy interrogation in 2024, no incriminating evidence had emerged. He criticized the timing of the raid, suggesting it was an attempt to harass Khan, who had requested time due to his mother-in-law's cancer surgery.
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj echoed these sentiments, condemning the central government and the ED. He highlighted that the case, which has been under investigation for eight years, had failed to produce evidence of financial wrongdoing. Bharadwaj accused the central government of using investigative agencies to create pressure as elections approach. ?It is a matter of great shame for the central government that despite their extensive investigations, no evidence of money transactions has been found,? he said.
In contrast, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva defended the ED?s actions, asserting that the investigation into Khan was justified. ?There is a group of corrupt people in AAP, and when the law takes its course, they start shouting,? Sachdeva said. He maintained that Khan, who faces accusations of corruption related to the Delhi Waqf Board, must answer to the law.
A video from the raid has surfaced, showing ED and Delhi Police officials sifting through documents while Khan is seen sitting in a nearby room with his ailing mother-in-law. The footage has fueled further debate over the nature and timing of the raid.
As political tensions rise, the investigation into Amanatullah Khan continues to be a flashpoint in the broader narrative of governance and political accountability in Delhi.
