ED conducted the raids at over 12 premises across Delhi, Chandigarh and Varanasi. (File)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary, a Rajya Sabha MP and several other AAP leaders were raided by the Enforcement Directorate this morning in a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board, said sources.
The central agency conducted searches at over 12 premises across Delhi, Chandigarh and Varanasi, hours before a press conference by the AAP in which the party had claimed it will make "explosive expose" on the agency.
Bibhav Kumar, personal secretary of Mr Kejriwal, Rajya Sabha MP ND Gupta, former DJB member Shalabh Kumar are among those who were raided, the sources added.
Speaking to reporters later in the day, Delhi Minister Atishi alleged the raids were being carried out to "scare" her party. She also accused the ED of intimidating people to make them sign false statements.
"We are not afraid. Not even one rupee has been recovered. No evidence has been found yet. The ED is trying to build the case by turning accused into government witness," she said.
The raids held this morning are in connection with an alleged scam in the Delhi Jal Board. The ED case stems from an FIR registered by the CBI and an Anti-Corruption Branch probe. The agency is now probing two separate financial irregularities in the tendering process of the DJB.
Retired chief engineer Jagdish Kumar Arora and contractor Anil Kumar Aggarwal were arrested in the case last week. On Monday, a special court PMLA court extended their ED custody for five more days.
Last year, the ED raided 16 places in Delhi-NCR, Chennai and Kerala in connection with the alleged irregularities.