AAP Received ₹7.08 Crore Illegal Foreign Funds Between 2014-22, Flouted FCRA Norms: ED

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is under scrutiny again as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleges it received ₹7 crore from foreign donors in Canada, the US, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Australia between 2014 and 2022. The ED claims these donations violate the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

AAP leader Atishi strongly refuted the allegations, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of orchestrating these claims to undermine her party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Atishi said, “This is a clear attempt by the BJP, fearing electoral defeat in Delhi and Punjab, to discredit AAP.”

She noted that the charges stem from an old case, adding that AAP had already provided all necessary explanations to various agencies, including the ED, CBI, Home Ministry and Election Commission. “This is a conspiracy by PM Modi to defame AAP,” she said.

The ED’s report, which was leaked, suggests that AAP received funds from 155 foreign donors totalling ₹1.02 crore on 404 occasions, using identical passports, credit cards, mobile numbers and email IDs. The agency claims these funds were routed through IDBI Bank Ltd. to avoid FCRA restrictions.

The investigation reportedly began during a probe into a drug smuggling case involving former AAP MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. Documents seized during a raid on his home allegedly contained information on these donors.

This isn’t the first time AAP has faced such allegations. In 2013, under the Congress-led UPA government, the party was accused of receiving foreign funds. Arvind Kejriwal had then challenged similar probes into Congress and BJP.