AAP Leader Refuses ED Statement, Says Documents Withheld
New Delhi, August 27, 2025 — AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj fiercely resisted signing a statement dictated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) following a late-night raid on his residence. “If they want to arrest me, go ahead,” he declared during a press conference. Bhardwaj claimed that the documents demanded by the ED were already in government custody and that his Right to Information (RTI) request for them went unanswered. Despite mounting pressure, he insisted he has “heaps of evidence” implicating the Lieutenant Governor — and vowed that if detained under conspiracy charges, AAP’s legal team would bring the evidence to light.
मैंने ED के मनमाफ़िक बयान पर साइन करने से साफ़ इनकार कर दिया और कह दिया कि अगर गिरफ़्तार करना है तो कर लो।
ED जिन कागज़ात की मांग कर रही है, वे सरकार के पास हैं। मैंने RTI लगाकर ये कागज़ मांगे थे, लेकिन मुझे कभी नहीं दिए गए।
LG साहब के ख़िलाफ़ मेरे पास ढेरों सबूत हैं। अगर मुझे… pic.twitter.com/4QoJ24kSu5
— Aam Aadmi Party Delhi (@AAPDelhi) August 27, 2025
Third Raid, Unshaken Resolve
According to source Bhardwaj offered to be arrested three times during initial stages of the ED operation, signaling his unflinching stance.
He conveyed the message: “I am a follower of Arvind Kejriwal. I will not work as you wish… They can also arrest me after the press conference.”
AAP Condemns “Diversionary Tactic”
AAP leaders including Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi called the raids politically motivated and designed to distract from criticism of Prime Minister Modi’s academic qualifications.
Atishi labeled it a “100% bogus raid,” highlighting that the alleged misdeeds predated Bhardwaj’s ministerial term. Party leaders also criticized the selective targeting and misuse of ED to silence dissent.
Raid Part of Hospital Scam Investigation
The ED conducted searches across 13 Delhi-NCR locations, including Bhardwaj’s residence, in a probe linked to alleged financial irregularities in hospital construction projects. This forms part of a money laundering investigation into the AAP’s health infrastructure initiatives.
BJP leaders welcomed the action, accusing the former AAP government of corruption and claiming that Bhardwaj played a role in overseeing hospital projects.
Stakes Are High: Evidence, Accountability, Politics
Bhardwaj’s bold refusal sends a clear signal: he’ll not cooperate unless evidence is shared. He claims that government agencies are withholding documents that could expose allegedly corrupt practices by the Lieutenant Governor’s office.
With Delhi’s political climate already fraught post-elections, these developments add fuel to an already heated confrontation between AAP and the BJP. Critics argue such raids are being used to shape narratives and undermine political opposition.