Former Goa in-charge, AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak, Kejriwal’s PA Bibhav Kumar may be arrested: ED sources

NEW DELHI: Jailed Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s personal assistant Bibhav Kumar was questioned for several hours today by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the liquor policy case.

The party’s Goa desk-in-charge during the 2022 Assembly polls, MLA Durgesh Pathak has been summoned by the probe agency. Sources within the ED said there is a direct link between Kumar and Pathak and the duo had all the details regarding the flow of funds during the Goa State Assembly polls. Kumar’s statement was recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and his version will be tallied with what Pathak says.

The ED has recorded the statements of several vendors, agencies, service providers and others who were paid in cash during the Goa 2022 polls. The Aam Aadmi Party has claimed that a huge sum to the tune of Rs 25 crore was paid to volunteers and party workers in cash towards food, travelling, transportation during the campaign, which according to them lasted nearly three months.

ED sources claimed that either Kumar or Pathak could be arrested if discrepancies are found in their statements. “As long as they co-operate and are telling the truth we have no reason to arrest them, but if any discrepancies are found in their statements or if they fail to co-operate, we will arrest them.

The ED has already got the exact turn of events and the financial trail. The recipients of the amounts have already admitted that the received cash from AAP leaders. It wants to find out who were the leaders or party workers who were distributing the amounts and to what extent of cash did they handle, the source stated.