CBI Probes Former AAP MLA for Alleged FCRA Breach, Raids Residence

New Delhi : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday conducted a raid at the residence of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA and current Gujarat co-incharge Durgesh Pathak, in connection with alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The development comes amid growing scrutiny over foreign funding received by political entities.

According to officials, the CBI has registered a case against Pathak, based on inputs suggesting irregularities in foreign contributions linked to his activities. The agency is probing whether the funds were received or utilized in a manner inconsistent with FCRA guidelines, which strictly regulate how individuals and organizations receive and use donations from abroad.

The searches were carried out at Pathak’s Delhi residence and reportedly included examination of digital devices, financial records, and documents linked to AAP’s funding sources during his tenure as a legislator and campaign strategist. Officials remained tight-lipped about the exact nature and extent of the alleged violations, stating only that “preliminary evidence warranted a full investigation.”

Reacting sharply to the raid, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh condemned the action, accusing the BJP-led central government of weaponizing investigative agencies for political vendetta. “Whenever BJP senses defeat, it unleashes the CBI, ED, or IT Department against AAP leaders. This is nothing but a diversionary tactic,” Singh said during a press briefing.

Pathak, known for his stronghold in Delhi’s political corridors and his expanding role in Gujarat, has not yet issued a personal statement. Party sources, however, indicated that he has “fully cooperated” with the investigating agency and has “nothing to hide.”

The raid comes at a politically sensitive time, with multiple opposition parties alleging misuse of central agencies ahead of upcoming elections in various states. The AAP leadership claims this is another attempt to derail its organizational growth beyond Delhi and Punjab.

The FCRA, amended in 2020, imposes stricter compliance requirements on political parties and individuals receiving foreign funds. Violations can attract serious penalties, including freezing of bank accounts, cancellation of registration, or criminal prosecution.