At a press conference, Aam Aadmi Party’s Delhi unit chief, Saurabh Bharadwaj, launched a sharp attack on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and alleged that he was being deliberately targeted as part of a larger conspiracy. He directly accused Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of playing a role in framing him, claiming that the case against him was fabricated. According to Bharadwaj, the central probe agency not only raided his home but also used threats and pressure tactics to manipulate him. He alleged that important documents were stolen from his residence and later misused against him in the ongoing investigation.
The controversy erupted after the ED carried out raids on Tuesday across 13 different locations in Delhi and the National Capital Region. These locations included Bharadwaj’s house as well as premises linked to private contractors. The raids were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and were connected to a probe into an alleged scam involving health infrastructure projects sanctioned during AAP’s tenure in Delhi. Bharadwaj, however, dismissed the allegations outright, calling the entire case a political conspiracy designed to silence him and malign his party.
Recounting the details of the raid, Bharadwaj explained that the ED officials arrived at his residence as early as 7:15 in the morning. They searched the house thoroughly and later went on to record his statement. He revealed that the agency questioned him with 43 separate queries, all of which he answered in detail. Yet, despite his cooperation, Bharadwaj alleged that his statement was tampered with. He claimed that after recording his answers, officials attempted to coerce him into removing a certain portion of what he had said.
Bharadwaj further elaborated that his family was indirectly warned of his possible arrest if he refused to comply with the agency’s demands. This, he asserted, was a clear example of the ED’s manipulative methods, which involved not only coercion but also psychological pressure. “They dictate what you should say and threaten you with consequences if you resist. This is how they operate,” he remarked during the press briefing.
The minister also placed the blame squarely on Lieutenant Governor Saxena, stating that the LG had ensured bureaucrats would deliberately ignore or delay the implementation of directives issued by him. Bharadwaj recalled that after being appointed as a minister on March 9, 2023, he held a meeting on March 22 to resolve delays in hospital projects, followed by several other meetings where he issued directions. However, according to him, the officers, in collusion with the LG, intentionally stalled progress and later conspired to frame him in the ongoing case.
He also admitted that he was fully aware of the possibility of being arrested in the coming days. However, he asserted that his legal team would continue the fight in his absence and reveal the truth behind the political vendetta. “Even if I am put behind bars, my lawyers will ensure that the reality comes to light,” he said with confidence.
Reiterating his accusations, Bharadwaj claimed that the ED not only pressured him but also unlawfully took documents from his home. He accused the agency of forcing him to sign statements that were written arbitrarily, without reflecting his actual words. Shockingly, he added that the ED had failed to even mention the seizure of these documents in the official panchanama. For Bharadwaj, these actions were proof of the partisan manner in which investigative agencies were being used to settle political scores.
