In a development that has sparked political tensions, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday morning conducted a search at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Durgesh Pathak. The move follows the registration of a case against him under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), and comes just days after Pathak was appointed co-incharge of AAP’s Gujarat campaign for the 2027 Assembly elections.
Prominent AAP figures swiftly responded, alleging that the raid was not about legal procedure but rather a deliberate political attack aimed at derailing the party’s momentum in Gujarat. Senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of resuming its “dirty tactics” to weaken AAP ahead of its electoral push in the state. He claimed the BJP was unsettled by AAP’s growing grassroots presence.
Pathak’s Electoral Background
Durgesh Pathak, who currently serves on AAP’s Political Affairs Committee the party’s top decision-making body has long been involved in building the organisation from the ground up in Delhi and Punjab. After an initial electoral loss in 2020 from Karawal Nagar, Pathak won a by-election in Rajinder Nagar in 2022. However, he lost the same seat in the 2025 Delhi elections to BJP candidate Umang Bajaj.
Reacting strongly to the incident, AAP leader Atishi said the BJP was displaying its anxiety about facing real opposition in Gujarat. “The moment we begin strategising for elections, central agencies are sent to our doors. This raid is just another attempt to create fear, but it won’t work,” she wrote in a post on social media.
AAP Leaders Claim CBI’s Move as BJP’s Streategy
The timing of the CBI action has led AAP leaders to claim it is not coincidental. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who himself has been targetted in previous investigations, called the raid part of a broader conspiracy. “Durgesh was given Gujarat responsibility, and immediately the CBI came knocking. This is fear not law driving the BJP’s actions,” he stated.
Meanwhile, AAP’s national general secretary Sandeep Pathak echoed these sentiments, asserting on social media that the raid is a “loud signal” that the BJP is unsettled by AAP’s growing traction in Gujarat. He labelled the move as part of a larger pattern of intimidation aimed at blocking the party’s expansion in states beyond Delhi and Punjab.
Raid Creates Political Debate
The CBI, according to reports, began investigating potential FCRA violations and filed the case on Wednesday, with the search operation taking place early Thursday. While the agency has not released a public statement detailing its findings, the timing has fueled political debate.
In a separate but seemingly coordinated move, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier this week raided the home of AAP MLA Kulwant Singh in Punjab’s Mohali district. The operation, reportedly linked to the massive ₹48,000 crore PACL ponzi scam, focused on Singh’s connections through his real estate business. While Singh was absent during the search, his family was questioned by investigators. He had previously faced ED inquiries related to drug-linked money laundering.
Pathak Names in Liquor Case, AAP Cries Foul
Durgesh Pathak also figures in the CBI’s chargesheet regarding the Delhi liquor policy case a matter that previously saw AAP’s top leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Sisodia, arrested before being released on bail. Despite these legal challenges, AAP leaders have consistently maintained their innocence, labelling the cases as politically driven.
As AAP gears up for a full-scale campaign in Gujarat, the party insists these investigative moves will not deter its plans. “We will not back down in the face of scare tactics,” said Sandeep Pathak, reinforcing the party’s resolve.
