AAP Leaders Visit Jailed Goa In-Charge Deepak Singla, Calls Arrest Political

AAP on Tuesday put up a strong show of support for its Goa in-charge Deepak Singla , as party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal , Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann , and senior Delhi leader Atishi visited him at Ambala Central Jail in Haryana . The meeting comes amid an ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into an alleged ₹155-crore bank fraud and money laundering case that has triggered a fresh political confrontation between the opposition party and central agencies.

The leaders met Singla for nearly 30 minutes at the high-security prison in Ambala, Haryana , amid tight police deployment. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mann condemned Singla’s arrest and described it as a politically motivated action , reiterating the party’s claim that central investigative agencies are being used to target opposition leaders.

Singla was arrested by the ED on May 18 following coordinated searches at multiple locations linked to him and alleged hawala operators in Delhi and Goa . The federal agency is probing a case that originated from a CBI investigation into M/s Mahesh Timber Pvt Ltd and its associates over alleged financial irregularities involving Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) .

According to investigators, the accused allegedly manipulated Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs) through unauthorized amendments made via the international SWIFT banking network . The ED claims these transactions enabled overseas remittances far beyond sanctioned limits, causing losses of around ₹155 crore to OBC and other consortium banks.

The agency has further alleged that nearly ₹195 crore was transferred abroad without any genuine timber imports taking place. During the investigation, authorities reportedly uncovered forged Bills of Entry and Bills of Lading , which were allegedly used to create the impression that import transactions had been completed. Investigators believe these documents played a crucial role in facilitating fraudulent transactions and concealing the true nature of the fund flows.

The ED has accused Singla and certain family members of being involved in the alleged fraud and subsequent laundering of proceeds of crime. Investigators are also examining suspected hawala-linked fund movements between Delhi and Goa. Searches carried out by the agency reportedly resulted in the seizure of cash, foreign currency, electronic devices and financial records.

AAP has strongly rejected the allegations, arguing that Singla was not named in the original predicate offence and accusing the Centre of pursuing a campaign of political vendetta. The party has maintained that the arrest is aimed at targeting opposition leaders at a time when it is seeking to expand its footprint in states such as Goa.

A special court recently denied Singla’s bail plea, observing that the investigation remains ongoing. With Kejriwal , Mann , and Atishi publicly rallying behind him, the case has acquired significant political overtones even as the ED continues to trace the alleged money trail and investigate the wider network linked to the suspected fraud.