New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj launched a scathing attack on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after a raid at his residence, alleging that the agency is part of a criminal conspiracy to falsely implicate opposition leaders.
Addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj claimed that ED officers manipulated his statement, seized documents selectively, and even attempted to alter official records to fabricate charges against him. He named several ED officials involved in the raid, including Deputy Director Ravash Bharadwaj and Assistant Director Mayank Arora, accusing them of coercion and misconduct.
Bharadwaj alleged that during the day-long raid, his family was harassed and his children left shaken. He further said that ED officers pressured him to sign a manipulated statement under PMLA Section 17, warning him of arrest if he refused. “I have evidence, including audio, video, and documentary proof, which shows how officials colluded with the Lt. Governor’s office to frame me in fabricated cases,” he declared.
Allegations of Evidence Tampering
The AAP leader claimed that ED officers removed key affidavits and documents from the official seizure list (panchnama) after realizing they could weaken the case against him. He accused ED of sharing his recorded statement with third parties via Google Drive and WhatsApp, calling it a serious breach of law.
“The affidavit they took from my house proves that I directed timely action as Health Minister. When they realized this evidence would support me, they deleted it from the record,” Bharadwaj alleged.
Larger Political Conspiracy
Bharadwaj directly blamed Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena, saying he conspired with central agencies to target AAP ministers. He also alleged that independent witnesses in raids (panchnamas) are stage-managed and demanded forensic examination of laptops and printers used during the operation.
“This is not just about me—if media and citizens stay silent, such fabricated cases will be used against anyone. This is a threat to democracy,” he warned.
Context
The raid comes amid ongoing ED investigations into alleged irregularities in Delhi’s health and infrastructure projects. Bharadwaj insisted that he had conducted multiple review meetings to speed up hospital construction but was being framed by political opponents.
The AAP has backed Bharadwaj’s allegations, calling the raids an attempt to intimidate opposition voices ahead of elections, while the ED has yet to respond publicly to his charges.
