The presence of police at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence in Delhi has triggered a political row

New Delhi: Tensions escalated ahead of the elections when a team of Election Commission officials and Delhi Police reached Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s official residence at Kapurthala House in Delhi on Thursday following a complaint of alleged cash distribution. The incident has triggered a political uproar. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of conducting the raid for political gains.

Police officials said the raid was conducted following a complaint lodged through the Election Commission’s cVIGIL app. Through this app, citizens can register complaints of violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The complaint was that cash was being distributed from Kapurthala House.

Kapurthala House falls under the New Delhi Assembly constituency. A Flying Squad Team (FST) was deployed to investigate the matter. Delhi Police provided him security. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahala said, “This action is being taken on the complaint of the Returning Officer and Flying Squad Team (FST). Police presence is required for the security of the FST.

However, AAP leaders termed it a “politically motivated attack”. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann wrote on social media platform X that the Election Commission and Delhi Police were trying to “defame Punjabis” at the behest of the BJP. “The Election Commission is blind to the BJP openly distributing money, but my residence is being raided. This is nothing but an attempt to tarnish our image,” he posted.

आज दिल्ली पुलिस के साथ चुनाव आयोग की टीम दिल्ली में मेरे घर कपूरथला हाउस रेड करने पहुँची है। दिल्ली के अंदर भाजपा वाले खुले आम पैसे बाँट रहे हैं पर दिल्ली पुलिस और चुनाव आयोग को कुछ नहीं दिख रहा है। इस सब पर कोई कार्यवाही नहीं हो रही।

एक तरिके से दिल्ली पुलिस और चुनाव आयोग भाजपा…

— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) January 30, 2025

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi echoed Mann’s words and criticised the action, calling it a misuse of power by the BJP. “Delhi Police has arrived to raid Bhagwant Mann ji’s house in Delhi. BJP people are distributing money, shoes and sheets in broad daylight, but instead they are raiding the residence of an elected Chief Minister. Wow BJP! The people of Delhi will give their answer on the 5th,” he wrote on X.

दिल्ली पुलिस @BhagwantMann जी के दिल्ली के घर पर रेड करने पहुँच गई है।

भाजपा वाले दिन दहाड़े पैसे, जूते, चद्दर बांट रहे हैं- वो नहीं दिखता। बल्कि एक चुने हुए मुख्यमंत्री के निवास पर रेड करने पहुँच जाते हैं।

वाह री भाजपा! दिल्ली वाले 5 तारीख़ को जवाब देंगे!

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) January 30, 2025

The situation worsened when reports emerged that security personnel were preventing the FST team from entering Kapurthala House. Official sources claimed that following standard procedure, the FST was supposed to investigate and close the complaint within 100 minutes.

Adding fuel to the fire, the Delhi Police had earlier seized a private vehicle with a “Punjab Government” sticker near Punjab Bhawan. It was said to be loaded with liquor, cash and AAP’s election campaign material. However, the AAP vehemently denied the allegations and claimed that the BJP was trying to play “dirty politics” to defame the party and its government in Punjab.

This discord has come at a very crucial juncture in the political arena, as Delhi prepares for the next elections. Meanwhile, AAP leaders are constantly crying victimhood, while the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies are arguing that they are only doing their job. This latest controversy is set to add more fire to an already heated political atmosphere on polling day. He will do the work of adding ghee to it.