The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday conducted searches at the residence of Durgesh Pathak, a former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA and Gujarat polls co-incharge, after registering a case against him for allegedly receiving foreign donations in violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010. Along with Durgesh Pathak, Kapil Bhardwaj, another party office-bearer, has also been named in the case.
The case stems from a complaint by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which claimed that AAP had received foreign contributions contrary to the provisions of the FCRA. The CBI FIR specifies that the receipt of such donations by a political party is prohibited under Section 3 of the FCRA and Section 29B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The investigation has raised concerns over AAP’s use of foreign funds and the alleged deliberate concealment of donor identities.
During the investigation, CBI sources indicated that key AAP leaders, including Durgesh Pathak, may be called for questioning to address the anomalies in the party’s financial records. Durgesh Pathak, in response, criticized the CBI’s actions, calling them part of a broader effort to intimidate him and stifle the party’s growing influence in Gujarat. Durgesh Pathak asserted that the raid was politically motivated, pointing to his active role in strengthening AAP’s presence in the state.
According to the FIR, AAP had established a body named “AAP Overseas India,” tasked with mobilizing foreign funds from countries like the USA, Canada, and Australia. In 2016, an email conversation allegedly revealed that Durgesh Pathak and Kapil Bhardwaj had directed donations amounting to USD 29,000 to be transferred directly to them. The Home Ministry referred the case to the CBI following findings from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had uncovered that AAP received significant donations from overseas donors using multiple passport numbers and mobile numbers, raising suspicions about the transparency of these transactions.
The CBI also claims that donations from 71 foreign donors were processed using 21 mobile numbers, and 75 donors made contributions via 15 credit cards. Furthermore, irregularities were noted in AAP’s official records, which allegedly concealed the nationality and identities of donors.
AAP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, strongly condemned the raids, claiming that they were part of the BJP’s attempts to thwart the party’s political growth. Durgesh Pathak, who had a significant role in Gujarat’s 2022 elections, had been actively working to expand AAP’s presence in the state, prompting BJP’s reaction, according to the party.
This investigation adds to a series of political tensions surrounding AAP’s growing influence in various states, particularly Gujarat, where the party made notable strides in the 2022 Assembly elections.
