The recovery of ₹5 lakh in cash from an employee working at Delhi Chief Minister Atishi’s office has sparked a political controversy just a day before the Assembly elections.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has strongly denied any wrongdoing, calling the incident a conspiracy to malign the party's image ahead of polling. Delhi Police is investigating the source and purpose of the cash, adding to the already heated political atmosphere in the national capital.
A video of the incident has surfaced, showing a bag full of cash inside a car. The employee, identified as Gaurav, was seen standing outside the vehicle.
He claimed that the money was personal and linked to a house transaction. Gaurav, a resident of Faridabad, stated that he had recently sold his house and used the cash payment to buy another property. He insisted that he had all the necessary proof to substantiate his claim.
Delhi Police sources, however, revealed that an investigation into Gaurav’s mobile phone indicated communication with Atishi’s personal assistant, Pankaj.
Allegedly, their discussions involved coded conversations about distributing money across different wards in Delhi. The police are now trying to establish whether the cash was part of a larger operation.
Authorities said they received a tip-off about the money, after which a team reached the location. The Flying Squad Team (FST) detained Gaurav and another individual, identified as Ajit.
Preliminary information suggested that both men were associated with the Chief Minister’s office. Police officials confirmed that an investigation was underway to determine the source of the cash and where it was being transported.
Delhi Police further added that one of the detained individuals worked as an assistant to the Chief Minister’s personal assistant, while the other was a driver. Both Gaurav and the driver have been taken into custody for questioning.
AAP has strongly refuted all allegations, dismissing them as a BJP-led ploy to divert public attention on the eve of the election. The party stated that Gaurav had already clarified in the video that the money belonged to him and had no connection with any political activities.
AAP further accused the BJP of distributing cash to voters while law enforcement agencies ignored these activities. The party also claimed that a separate incident involving a vehicle with a Punjab Sarkar board was another attempt to falsely implicate AAP in an election scandal.
According to AAP, BJP workers have been openly distributing money in slum areas, but the police have failed to act.
The party alleged that a car with a fake Punjab number plate was deliberately parked in Delhi, and police later claimed to have seized cash from it in an effort to create negative publicity for AAP.
Delhi is set to vote on Wednesday in a high-stakes Assembly election where AAP, BJP, and Congress are locked in a fierce contest.
While the BJP is aiming to make significant gains, AAP is determined to maintain its stronghold in the capital. Congress is also eyeing a potential resurgence in the city’s political landscape.
The outcome of the election will be decided on February 8, when the counting of votes takes place.
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