The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has raised concerns regarding a purported understanding between senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Raghav Chadha, an AAP Member of Parliament. This allegation is tied to the recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids conducted on Ashok Mittal, a fellow Rajya Sabha MP, alongside a reported upgrade of security for Chadha. AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar communicated these claims to the media, asserting that there is information from verified sources about a significant meeting involving top BJP leaders and Raghav Chadha, where it was decided that Chadha would receive Z+ security and that raids would be executed at Mittal’s premises.

Kakkar indicated that these events were not merely coincidental, reflecting a broader political arrangement. She alleged that the raids were orchestrated at Chadha’s initiative and expressed concerns over the implications of the planned security upgrade. The spokesperson remarked, “The Z plus security being granted is reportedly at Raghav Chadha’s request,” underscoring the perceived interconnection of these developments.

Timing of the Raids and Political Implications

According to Kakkar, the timing of the raids raises suspicions, particularly as they occurred shortly before elections in Punjab. She suggested that the proximity of these events to the elections indicates a strategic move by the BJP. Kakkar articulated her party’s position by stating, “There are no coincidences in politics. The timing of these raids right before the elections in Punjab conveys a clear message.” The spokesperson elaborated on the connection between the security discussions for Chadha and the concurrent raids on Mittal, implying that such actions were ordered from a singular source.

Additionally, Kakkar has been critical of Chadha himself, insinuating that he has strayed from the party that facilitated his rise in politics. She expressed disappointment that Chadha appeared to have forgotten the party’s role in his political journey, which she characterised as an elevation from an ordinary worker to a member of parliament. Kakkar condemned the alleged dealings as disreputable, stating that AAP would remain undeterred by purported raids aimed at obstructing their electoral prospects.

Details of the Enforcement Directorate Raids

The Enforcement Directorate executed searches on 15 April 2026, targeting business and residential locations associated with Ashok Mittal in Punjab and Haryana under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Officials have confirmed that the raids spanned multiple locations, including significant sites in Jalandhar and Phagwara. Mittal, an educationalist and businessman, serves as the head of the Lovely Group and holds the position of Chancellor at Lovely Professional University. He has also recently taken on the role of deputy leader of the AAP in the Rajya Sabha, succeeding Raghav Chadha.

Political reactions have been swift, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticising the Centre, alleging that the raids form part of the BJP’s broader election strategy. Mann remarked that the BJP’s operatives appear to be ramping up actions leading to the Punjab elections. AAP’s national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, joined the denouncement, claiming that the BJP is misusing governmental agencies for electoral advantage.

Comments from other AAP leaders highlighted concerns over the allegations of misuse of central agencies like the ED and CBI being a significant aspect of the BJP’s election approach. Conversely, BJP leaders, including Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, have rebuffed AAP’s claims, stating that the party’s integrity is questionable and that governmental actions are well justified.

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