Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Ashok Oza has refuted Gujarat Police’s claims of his connection to a fake Intelligence Bureau (IB) verification call for a party worker. Oza asserts that he is wrongly accused and has been questioned about the party’s internal affairs and finances. This statement comes amidst a dispute that originated when former Delhi MLA Durgesh Pathak alleged on social media that Gujarat Police’s IB wing was intimidating AAP workers.
AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal further amplified the issue by personally investigating the alleged phone number and questioning if party members were facing undue scrutiny. Anand Cyber Crime Police initiated an inquiry after tracing the number to a resident in Anand. Subsequently, Oza, the President of AAP’s Vadodara city unit, and Nitin Dobariya were arrested by the police.
The investigation revealed that a call was made to party worker Keshav Chauhan under false pretenses of being from the “Karelibaug IB Office.” Police claimed the call was part of an internal party rivalry conspiracy, with Oza allegedly viewing Chauhan as a political adversary. The arrests led to a political dispute, with Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi accusing Kejriwal of spreading misinformation.
Oza, responding to the allegations post-arrest, denied instructing anyone to pose as an IB official during the call. He emphasized that the call was made to inquire about the IB’s requirements, with Chauhan present on the call. Oza criticized the interrogation focusing on the party’s structure and funding sources, questioning the motives behind such inquiries.
The AAP leader accused the state government of politicizing the case and raised doubts about the authenticity of the interrogating officer. Oza maintained his loyalty to AAP, dismissing any involvement in conspiracies. The case is registered under relevant sections of the law, including the Information Technology Act, with the investigation ongoing.
