The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Deepak Singla following raids in Delhi and Goa in connection with an alleged bank fraud case, triggering sharp political reactions from the party leadership.
The ED conducted searches at properties linked to Singla, who serves as AAP’s Goa co-incharge, before arresting him in connection with an alleged bank fraud investigation.
According to officials, raids were carried out at locations in Delhi and Goa on Monday morning as part of the probe.
The arrest sparked strong reactions from the Aam Aadmi Party, which accused the BJP-led Centre of misusing central agencies to target opposition leaders ahead of elections.
Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Atishi alleged that the ED action was aimed at intimidating party workers and accessing AAP’s internal organisational data in Goa.
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“With Aam Aadmi Party's popularity growing in Goa, BJP's loyal foot-soldier, the ED, has been sent here as well,” Atishi wrote in a post on X, claiming the raids were intended to “scare volunteers” and obtain organisational information for political purposes.
In a separate video statement, Atishi alleged that similar tactics had previously been used against the All India Trinamool Congress during the West Bengal Assembly elections.
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also defended Singla, alleging that he was being targeted for refusing to join the BJP.
“Deepak Singla was not arrested because he did anything wrong. Rather, he was arrested because he was working against the BJP and refused to join the BJP,” Kejriwal said in a post on X.
The ED has not yet publicly disclosed detailed allegations related to the bank fraud case or the amount involved in the investigation.
The latest action adds to the growing political confrontation between the ruling BJP and opposition parties over the use of central investigative agencies in corruption and financial crime probes.
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