CBI Raids on AAP Leader Durgesh Pathak Draw Sharp Response from Party Leaders

 New Delhi, April 17 — The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has strongly condemned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids conducted on the premises of senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Durgesh Pathak, calling it a politically motivated move orchestrated by the BJP-led central government.

The CBI launched the searches on Thursday morning in connection with an ongoing case related to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The development comes just days after Pathak was appointed as AAP’s in-charge for the 2027 Gujarat assembly elections.

Addressing the media, AAP MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the raid was part of a broader campaign of political intimidation. “The BJP and the Modi government have once again initiated their familiar tactics of vendetta politics. Our senior leaders have faced arrests, and raids have been carried out across Delhi and Punjab. Now, with Durgesh Pathak tasked with building our organisation in Gujarat, the CBI has been unleashed on him,” Singh said.

Singh emphasized that the ruling party at the Centre is apprehensive about AAP’s growing influence in Gujarat. “We secured 14% of the vote share in the last state elections. The BJP's position in Gujarat is weakening, and the people are turning to AAP with hope. These raids are a sign of the BJP’s desperation and fear of defeat,” he added, affirming the party’s unwavering support for Pathak and his family.

Reacting to the raid, former Delhi Minister Atishi took to social media platform X, writing, “As soon as AAP began preparations for the Gujarat elections, the CBI raided Durgesh Pathak’s home. Only AAP poses a real challenge to the BJP in Gujarat, and this raid reflects their frustration. They have still not learned that we will not be cowed by intimidation.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj linked the timing of the CBI action directly to Pathak’s new responsibilities. “During the last Gujarat elections, BJP began targeting AAP leaders through arrests. Now, with @ipathak25 assuming charge for Gujarat again, a CBI raid has followed.”

In the 2022 Gujarat assembly elections, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP made notable inroads by securing five seats and over 14% of the vote, establishing itself as a significant political force in the BJP bastion.

As the party prepares for the 2027 contest, Thursday’s developments are widely viewed as an early flashpoint in what is expected to be an increasingly contentious political battle in the state.