NEW DELHI: Probing a complaint on the cVIGIL mobile application about money being allegedly distributed from the official residence of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann in the city, a team of election officials, along with police, reached Kapurthala House on Thursday evening. They were stopped by the security personnel and had to wait for 90 minutes before they were finally allowed to go in. The entire search operation was recorded on video.
AAP functionaries protested vehemently with Mann accusing the Election Commission of “defaming Punjabis at the behest of BJP” and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal alleging that opposition functionaries were being targeted while BJP netas were openly distributing cash and valuables without facing any action. BJP, on the other hand, claimed that poll officials and cops were stalled from entering to remove incriminating material.
According to the poll officials, the team was responding to a complaint on cVIGIL, a platform where anyone can report violations of the model code of conduct.
As per standard protocol, a flying squad team (FST) of New Delhi assembly constituency stationed nearby was assigned by the control room the task of investigating the complaint and closing it by taking appropriate action within the stipulated 100-minute timeframe,” the district election office of the New Delhi district said in a statement.
In a post on X, Mann alleged that the Election Commission was not reacting to the complaints of “open distribution” of money but had conducted a raid at his house with police. “BJP members are openly distributing money, yet neither Delhi Police, nor the Election Commission seems to notice anything. No action is being taken against this…” Mann said in a post in Hindi.
“I don’t understand. It’s BJP functionaries who are openly distributing money, blankets, saris, shoes, jackets, shawls, and even gold chains. Yet, the raid is happening on the chief minister of Punjab. What kind of governance is this? What did EC find during the raid? When will EC muster the courage to raid those BJP netas who are openly distributing money and goods?” Kejriwal said.
While Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh charged BJP with launching a campaign to “defame Punjabis and Sikhs”, Delhi chief minister Atishi posted on X that “the people of Delhi will give their answer to BJP on the 5th (with their votes)!”
AAP Punjab president and cabinet minister Aman Arora also lashed out at BJP. He wrote on X: “BJP is unable to accept the truth written on the wall about AAP’s victory and their own defeat. The raid on the Delhi residence of the chief minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, is next in the series of vendettas by BJP against Punjab and Punjabis, which neither the people of Punjab nor those of Delhi will tolerate.”
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, however, claimed that by the time poll officials were allowed inside Kapurtha House, an “operation cleanup” had already taken place, and that’s why no illegal material was found. “By preventing election officials from entering Kapurthala House, Punjab Police protected Punjab’s leaders from investigation, which is both disgraceful and a blatant attack on democracy,” Sachdeva claimed.