Delhi Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Tuesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre is attempting to “scare and silence” the party by conducting Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on its leaders.

In her initial response to the Enforcement Directorate raids at the residences of Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal’s personal secretary, Atishi claimed that party members were being “threatened.” She highlighted how the probe agency “has not been able to recover even a single rupee from them.”

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The Enforcement Directorate is currently conducting searches at nearly 10 locations, including the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s personal secretary Bibhav Kumar and others connected to the Aam Aadmi Party.

During a press conference specifically scheduled to ‘expose’ the ED, Atishi stated, “For the last 2 years, AAP leaders have faced threats. In the name of this so-called liquor scam, someone’s house is raided, they get summoned, and arrested…Even after hundreds of raids in two years, ED has not been able to recover even a single rupee.”

She noted that despite numerous raids, the ED has failed to recover any incriminating evidence or funds from AAP leaders.

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Atishi also questioned the agency’s conduct during the probe into the alleged liquor scam, stating, “Cross-questioning was done with government witnesses. The statements given and the statements in court were different. When footage was provided, audio footage was deleted.”

Asserting that AAP leaders would not be “intimidated” by ED raids, Atishi mentioned that raids were being conducted at the premises of Kumar and Gupta since 7 am. She claimed that more raids on the premises of other AAP leaders would be carried out throughout the day.

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Providing details about the raids, she said, “ED raids are ongoing against AAP leaders and people associated with it. Raids are underway at the residence of AAP Treasurer and MP ND Gupta, Arvind Kejriwal’s PA, and others.” She further alleged, “The BJP wants to suppress our party through central agencies, but I want to tell them (BJP) that we will not be afraid…”

According to ANI sources, the raids are part of a money laundering probe being conducted by the agency.

These raids coincide with the agency’s move to approach a Delhi court against AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal for skipping its summons for the fifth time in a case linked to the excise policy.

Earlier this month, a team from the Delhi crime branch visited Arvind Kejriwal’s residence in Civil Lines and served a notice to join a probe into allegations that the BJP attempted to “poach” MLAs to topple his government