Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand, under ED lens, quits from govt, AAP; says party 'mired in corruption'

Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand, who is also under the Enforcement Directorate (ED) scanner, resigned on Wednesday from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Announcing his decision, Anand accused AAP of being “anti-Dalit” and “mired in corruption”.

Anand has resigned from both his posts as Delhi’s welfare, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes minister and AAP.

After resigning as Delhi minister and from AAP, Raaj Kumar Anand says, "Aam Aadmi Party was born to fight corruption but today the party is stuck in a swamp of corruption. It has become difficult for me to work on the minister's post. I resigned from the post of minister and from… https://t.co/Zad3HoJ5vR

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2024

His resignation has added more trouble for AAP whose national convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is in jail in connection with a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy case.

‘Don’t want my name associated with AAP’

Talking to the media after announcing his resignation, Anand, who is an MLA from Delhi’s Patel Nagar, said: “The party was born to fight corruption but today the party itself is mired in corruption. I can’t work in this government and therefore, I am resigning. I don’t want my name to be associated with this corruption."

#WATCH | On his resignation from the post of Delhi Social Welfare Minister and Aam Aadmi Party, Raaj Kumar Anand says, "...I became a minister to pay back the society. I don't want to be part of a party that takes a backseat when Dalit representation is talked about. I am not… pic.twitter.com/rcTs58lAIe

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2024

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He went on to allege that there was no Dalit among the top leaders of AAP and that Dalit MLAs, minister,s or councillors of the party were not given any respect.

#WATCH | Raaj Kumar Anand says, "The connection with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal happened because he had said 'Rajniti badlegi toh desh badlega'...Today politics hasn't changed but the politician has. I have sent my resignation to the chief minister's office." https://t.co/Zad3HoJ5vR pic.twitter.com/FXMkM5LI8W

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2024

“This party doesn’t respect Dalit MLAs, councillors and ministers. In such circumstances, all Dalits fell cheated. We live in an inclusive society, but it is not wrong to talk about proportion. It is difficult for me to remain in the party with all these things, hence I want to tell that I am resigning from the post,” Anand further said. constituency.

#WATCH | Delhi | Raaj Kumar Anand says, "We have 13 Rajya Sabha MPs, but none of them are Dalit, women or from backward classes. There is no respect for Dalit MLAs, councillors and ministers in this party. In such a situation, all Dalits feel cheated. Due to all this, it is… pic.twitter.com/b2WAi7z7FK

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2024

First Delhi minister to resign after Kejriwal’s arrest

It is worth mentioning that Anand is the first minister in the Delhi government minister to quit his post and the AAP as a direct result of the arrest of Kejriwal and the liquor policy case.

ED case against Raaj Kumar Anand

Anand is under investigation by the ED and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in an alleged money laundering case relating to unaccounted business investments in hawala payments sent to China in 2023.

In November last year, the probe agency carried out raids at Anand’s residence in a money laundering case not connected to the liquor policy case.

The ED had initiated the investigation on the basis of the Prosecution Complaint filed by DRI against Anand and others for the commission of offence under various sections of the Customs Act, 1962.

As per the said complaint, Anand made Hawala Payments to China and evaded customs duty amounting to about Rs 7 Crore on various imports.

With inputs from agencies