ED arrests AAP leader Deepak Singla after raids; Atishi alleges bid to access organisational data

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday arrested AAP leader Deepak Singla following searches at his residence in connection with an alleged bank fraud case.According to officials, the raids were carried out in Delhi and Goa.Meanwhile, AAP launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party following the raids and accused it of trying to "acquire organisational data" of the party through central agencies.In a post on X, Delhi Leader of Opposition Atishi said the searches came amid what she described as AAP's "growing popularity" in Goa, alleging that the BJP was attempting to intimidate party workers through enforcement actions."With Aam Aadmi Party's popularity growing in Goa, BJP's loyal foot-soldier, ED, has been sent here as well! From early morning today, there has been an ED raid at the residence of AAP Goa co-incharge Deepak Singla, as well as at the homes of some volunteers in Goa. Not only is this an attempt to scare our volunteers, but also to acquire all our organisational data for the BJP!" Atishi wrote in the post.In a separate video message shared on X, Atishi alleged that the BJP used the ED and IPAC against TMC to win the West Bengal assembly elections. She alleged that the BJP acquired TMC's organisational data through the raids, claiming that the same politics was now being played in Punjab and Goa ahead of the elections.She said that the ED raided the residence of AAP leader Sanjeev Arora after he refused to join the BJP, while those who joined the party, including former AAP MP Ashok Mittal, were spared."The whole country saw how the BJP used ED against TMC in the Bengal elections. The agency IPAC, which was fighting the elections for TMC, saw its workers sent to jail. All the data of TMC's organisation was stolen through ED before the elections. After the elections, everyone was released from jail. After the Bengal elections, the next attack was on Punjab. In Punjab, raids were launched on the houses of common party leaders. No action was taken against BJP leaders who ran away. But leaders like Sanjeev Arora, who refused to join the BJP, were sent to jail. And now, after Punjab, the next target is Goa," she said in the video message.She questioned the "raids" on the residences of AAP Goa co-incharge Deepak Singla and other party workers, describing them as the BJP's attempt to weaken AAP in Goa amid the party's "growing popularity.""The BJP knows that the people of Goa hate the BJP government. They know that in the upcoming February elections, the people of Goa will throw them out. And they can see that the popularity of AAP is increasing in Goa. For this reason, since this morning, a raid has been going on at Deepak Singla's house in Goa. Fifteen ED cars are parked there. Fifty ED officers are standing there. Raids are being carried out at the houses of our workers in Goa. Why would a raid be carried out at the house of a common man? Why would a raid be carried out at Deepak Singla's house on the basis of an organisation? To steal the data of the organisation," she said.Expressing stern criticism of the action, she affirmed AAP's resilience and asserted that the "raids" would not ensure the BJP's growth or victory in the upcoming elections."But let me tell the BJP that the Aam Aadmi Party is not afraid of them. We are not afraid of ED threats. Today, the people of Goa are seeing how, in the last 15 years, the BJP has destroyed Goa. It has troubled the people of Goa. Even the ED cannot save the BJP in Goa," she said.On May 9, Punjab minister and AAP leader Sanjeev Arora was arrested following a day-long search at four premises linked to him, including his residence, associated entities, and an office belonging to Hampton Sky Realty Limited (HSRL), which is also under the agency's scanner in the case.