The political turmoil unfolding in Delhi after the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has witnessed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders charging that the firm and its director, whose sole testimony led to Kejriwal’s arrest, donated to the BJP through electoral bonds after being released on bail in the Delhi Liquor Policy case.
At a press conference held by AAP leader Atishi accused the BJP of receiving significant funds via electoral bonds from companies accused in the said case, particularly singling out Aurobindo Pharma and its director, P Sarath Chandra Reddy.
According to them, the ED's arrest of Kejriwal is based solely on the testimony of Sarath Chandra Reddy, who purportedly altered his statement after spending time in jail, claiming to have met Kejriwal. Atishi contends that Reddy's change of heart coincided with his release on bail.
The allegations extend further, with AAP suggesting that the BJP utilized funds received from Reddy's companies to finance its electoral campaigns, specifically in the Goa Legislative Assembly elections of 2022.
The ED, in its remand application, reportedly indicated that hawala operators from Mumbai facilitated the transfer of funds to Goa for AAP's poll campaign, linking the party directly to the alleged proceeds of the crime.
Saurabh Bharadwaj, another AAP leader, highlighted the purported financial transactions between Reddy's companies and the BJP, citing data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) website. He claimed that Rs. 59.5 crores were transferred from companies associated with the excise policy case to the BJP through electoral bonds, insinuating a quid pro quo arrangement between the accused parties.
The unfolding drama also sees Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann throwing his weight behind AAP, announcing a mega protest in Delhi's ITO area. This protest, which is expected to draw significant attention, aims to challenge Kejriwal's arrest and purportedly rally against what AAP perceives as political vendetta orchestrated by the BJP-led central government.
Meanwhile, the response from Sunita Kejriwal, Arvind Kejriwal's wife, echoes the sentiment of defiance against the central authorities. She issued a statement decrying her husband's arrest as an act of "arrogance of power" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Her words resonate with a sense of solidarity with her husband's political stance, portraying him as a martyr for the cause of the people.
The situation escalates as AAP leaders demand accountability from the BJP, urging the ED to include the party's national president, JP Nadda, as an accused in the case. They assert that if Kejriwal is being held accountable based on the testimony of one individual, then the same standard should apply to the BJP leadership implicated in the alleged financial irregularities.