ED Arrests AAP's Deepak Singla; Atishi Says BJP Trying to 'Acquire' AAP Data Through Raids
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday (May 18) arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Deepak Singla, in connection with an alleged bank fraud and money laundering case post raids conducted in premises linked to the leader. Former Delhi chief minister Atishi called this an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to acquire AAP's organisational data.
According to official reports, Singla was arrested shortly after raids were conducted at premises linked to him in Delhi and Goa.
Singla has contested elections as an AAP candidate from Vishwas Nagar assembly seat in Delhi in 2025 and 2020. He was previously raided by the ED in 2024 as part of an investigation.
In a social media post on X, Leader of Opposition in the assembly Atishi alleged that the BJP was trying to intimidate party members through enforcement actions.
"With Aam Aadmi Party’s popularity growing in Goa, BJP’s loyal foot-soldier, ED has been sent here as well! From early morning today, there is an ED raid at the residence of AAP Goa co-incharge, Deepak Singla, as well as the home of some volunteers in Goa," she said. "Not only is this an attempt to scare our volunteers, but also to acquire all our organisational data for the BJP!"
With Aam Aadmi Party’s popularity growing in Goa, BJP’s loyal foot-soldier, ED has been sent here as well!
From early morning today, there is an ED raid at the residence of AAP Goa co-incharge, Deepak Singla, as well as the home of some volunteers in Goa.
Not only is this an…
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) May 18, 2026
In a separate video posted on Monday morning, Atishi claimed that the BJP weaponised ED to win the West Bengal 2026 assembly elections, acquiring All India Trinamool Congress' (TMC) organisational data through raids.
She added, "After the Bengal elections, the next attack was on Punjab. In Punjab, raids were launched on the houses of common party leaders. No action was taken against BJP leaders who ran away. But leaders like Sanjeev Arora, who refused to join the BJP, were sent to jail. And now, after Punjab, the next target is Goa."
Atishi further asserted that not even the ED raids could ensure BJP's victory in Goa.
Even ED raids won’t be able to save BJP in Goa… pic.twitter.com/I4SPUKeFtL
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) May 18, 2026
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also defended Deepak Singla. In a post on X, Kejriwal wrote in Hindi, "Deepak Singla was not arrested because he did anything wrong. Rather, he was arrested because he was working against and refused to join the BJP. Deepak is brave and fighting for the country."
दीपक सिंगला को इसलिए गिरफ्तार नहीं किया कि उसने कोई ग़लत काम किया है। बल्कि इसलिए गिरफ़्तार किया है क्योंकि वो बीजेपी के ख़िलाफ़ काम कर रहा था और उसने बीजेपी में शामिल होने से मना कर दिया। दीपक बहादुर है और देश के लिए लड़ रहा है। https://t.co/rxt5IzL2hw
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 18, 2026
Earlier this month on May 9, Punjab minister and AAP leader Sanjeev Arora was taken into custody after his residence and an office belonging to Hampton Sky Realty Limited (HSRL) were searched by the agency in relation to an alleged Rs 100 crore GST fraud case.
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