AAP claims raid on Bhagwant Mann's Delhi residence, police deny charge

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi took to X and alleged that a team of Delhi Police reached Kapurthala House, residence of her Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, to conduct a raid, a claim which was denied by cops.

In Short

• Atishi accuses Delhi Police of targeting an elected Chief Minister
• Delhi Police says visit was to assist Returning Officer, not a raid
• Delhi Assembly polls to take place on Feb 5, counting on Feb 8

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday alleged that a team of Delhi Police arrived at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's official residence, Kapurthala House, in the capital city to conduct a raid. However, the Delhi Police outrightly denied the claims, asserting that no such action had taken place.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi took to X and expressed her outrage, accusing the Delhi Police of unfairly targeting an elected Chief Minister while ignoring the alleged malpractices by the BJP.

"Delhi Police has reached to raid Bhagwant Mann's house in Delhi. BJP people are openly distributing money, shoes, and sheets in broad daylight — yet, that goes unnoticed. Instead, they choose to raid the residence of an elected Chief Minister," Atishi posted.

The senior AAP leader also criticised the BJP and asserted that the people of Delhi would respond to such actions on February 5, the day of the upcoming Assembly elections in the city.

POLICE DENY CHARGES

Dismissing the allegations, Delhi Police clarified that no raid was conducted on Bhagwant Mann's house. Instead, a Delhi Police official stated that a team led by the Returning Officer (DM, New Delhi) had arrived at the Kapurthala House to investigate a complaint received via the C-Vigil portal.

The C-Vigil portal allows people to file complaints related to election code violations, which are then verified and resolved within 100 hours.

"We were present only to assist the DM, New Delhi, who is also the Returning Officer for the area. The visit was in response to a complaint, and there was no raid conducted by the Delhi Police," a senior Delhi Police official told India Today TV.

Meanwhile, DM, New Delhi said that a team of polling officials and Delhi Police arrived at Kapurthala House and actions were taken in response to a complaint regarding the alleged distribution of cash.

"However, the team is not being permitted by the security personnel to enter the premises to verify the complaint," the DM, New Delhi stated.

Notably, Bhagwant Mann has been in the national capital campaigning for the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the 70-member Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled to take place on February 5, with the results set to be announced on February 8.