The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Durgesh Pathak on Thursday morning in connection with alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), according to CBI sources.
The move triggered a strong response from the AAP, which accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using central agencies to suppress the party’s growing influence—particularly in Gujarat, where Pathak was recently appointed co-incharge for the 2027 assembly elections.
Reacting to the development, senior AAP leader and former Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Just like during the last Gujarat elections, the BJP government has once again started targeting AAP leaders. Now that Durgesh Pathak has been given Gujarat responsibility, the CBI shows up at his doorstep.”
AAP national secretary Sandeep Pathak echoed the sentiment, stating, “This raid, coming only days after Durgesh was given charge of Gujarat, sends a clear message that the BJP sees AAP as an emerging threat in the state.”
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh went further, accusing the Modi government of trying to “intimidate” Pathak through politically motivated raids. “The BJP has tried everything to destroy the Aam Aadmi Party. But seeing their own weakening grip in Gujarat, they’ve now resorted to sending the CBI after Durgesh Pathak,” he said.
While the CBI has yet to release an official statement detailing the nature of the case, the timing of the action has led to sharp political accusations and intensified tensions between AAP and the BJP ahead of the Gujarat elections.
