Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Durgesh Pathak on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre of using central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to intimidate opposition leaders, after his residence was raided in connection with an alleged FCRA violation case.
Addressing a press conference, Pathak said the raid was politically motivated and intended to “scare” him following his appointment as AAP’s co-incharge for Gujarat ahead of the 2027 state assembly elections.
“This is nothing but an attempt to intimidate AAP leaders and workers. I will fully cooperate with the agencies, but I will not be scared,” Pathak declared.
He described the raid in detail, stating that CBI officials arrived at his home with a search warrant and thoroughly combed his two-room house for nearly four hours.
“They checked every corner, flipped through every page of books, and in the end, left with only photocopies of Aadhaar cards belonging to people who had visited me when I was an MLA,” he said.
Pathak also alleged that the timing of the raid suggests political motives.
“Ever since I was given a key role in Gujarat, this is what I anticipated. The BJP is nervous because AAP won five seats in the last Gujarat elections and is being seen as a growing alternative,” he added, citing past arrests of top AAP leaders including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and Sanjay Singh as part of a pattern of harassment.
The CBI confirmed it is investigating Durgesh Pathak and Kapil Bhardwaj, among others, in a case related to alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010. The investigation was initiated following a referral from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had earlier launched a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and shared its findings with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The case involves alleged foreign funding irregularities involving AAP and its office bearers. The CBI has now taken over the investigation based on MHA clearance.
Despite the mounting legal scrutiny, Pathak remained defiant, asserting that the raid yielded nothing and that he would continue his political work undeterred.
