AAP slams probe agency over claims that Arvind Kejriwal’s phone is ‘missing’

New Delhi:

Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party today strongly rejected investigators’ claims that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal threw away his old mobile phone that may contain records of an alleged liquor scam. The Enforcement Directorate, which is investigating the case, claimed that witnesses had earlier discarded 170 mobile phones to eliminate evidence in the case.

The AAP yesterday scoffed at the claims. Party sources said the investigation “is being conducted by the BJP office”. They alleged that the Enforcement Directorate was a “political partner of the BJP”.

This morning, Delhi Minister Atish said the Enforcement Directorate was an “independent investigative agency”.

“If the ED has something to say, they should file a charge sheet and say it before a judge,” she added.

“I want to tell all the officials of ED that the constitution and laws of the country have given you certain powers. Do not violate this constitution. Do not kill the constitution… You are not an affiliated party of the BJP. You are organized according to this country independent investigative body established by law,” she added.

Sources in the agency said yesterday that the mobile phone used by Mr Kejriwal during the alleged liquor scam two years ago has gone missing. When asked about it, the chief minister said he did not know where it was, sources said.

Mr Kejriwal was arrested on Thursday evening and is being questioned by the Education Department. He will remain in the agency’s custody until March 28.