Gujarat Police arrest AAP Vadodara chief over fake IB call targeting party rival
Synopsis
What began as a high-profile AAP allegation of state intimidation has unravelled into an internal conspiracy case. Gujarat Police say the 'IB harassment' call that Arvind Kejriwal amplified on X was allegedly engineered by the AAP's own Vadodara city chief to drive out a party rival — turning a political attack on the government into a damaging story about the party itself.
Key Takeaways
Ashok Oza , president of the AAP Vadodara city unit , and labour contractor Nitin Dobariya were arrested by Gujarat Police in connection with a fake IB threat call.
The call allegedly targeted AAP worker Keshavji Chauhan as part of an internal party rivalry, not state-sponsored harassment.
AAP leaders Durgesh Pathak and Arvind Kejriwal had publicly accused Gujarat Police's IB wing of intimidating party workers before the investigation concluded.
The caller allegedly impersonated an official from the 'Karelibaug IB Office' on 28 May .
The case is registered under Sections 61(2), 204, 351(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66-D of the IT Act at Anand Cyber Crime Police Station .
Investigation is ongoing; further action has not been ruled out.
Gujarat Police have arrested two men, including Ashok Oza, president of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Vadodara city unit, after a cybercrime investigation found that a viral claim of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials harassing AAP workers was allegedly fabricated as part of an internal party rivalry, officials said on Saturday, 31 May 2025. The arrests follow a political storm triggered by senior AAP leaders who had publicly accused Gujarat Police of intimidating their workers.
How the Fake Call Was Traced
The controversy began when former Delhi MLA and AAP leader Durgesh Pathak alleged on social media platform X that the Gujarat Police's IB wing was threatening party workers in the state. AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal subsequently reposted the allegation, claiming he had personally dialled the number in question and that the person on the line identified himself as an IB official. Kejriwal publicly questioned under which legal provision such verification was being conducted and urged workers to share similar experiences.
According to Anand district police, investigators traced the mobile number cited in the social media posts to a resident of Anand, prompting a cybercrime inquiry under the supervision of Anand Superintendent of Police G.G. Jasani and Cyber Crime Police Inspector C.P. Chaudhary.
The Alleged Conspiracy
Police identified the caller as Nitin Dobariya, a labour contractor originally from Virpur in Rajkot district, currently residing in Anand. Investigators alleged that Dobariya acted in coordination with Oza to target AAP worker Keshavji Chauhan.
According to police, on 28 May, Oza summoned Dobariya to Vadodara, after which a call was placed from Dobariya's phone to Chauhan. During the call, the caller allegedly impersonated an official from the 'Karelibaug IB Office' and threatened Chauhan under the guise of a routine verification exercise. Police allege the motive was to force Chauhan — who had been deputed to Vadodara by the AAP for organisational work — to leave the city, as Oza reportedly viewed him as a political threat within the party.
Charges Filed
A case has been registered at Anand Cyber Crime Police Station under Sections 61(2), 204 and 351(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 66-D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which addresses cheating by personation using computer resources. Both accused have been taken into custody, and further investigation is ongoing.
Political Fallout
The episode places the AAP in an awkward position: the party's top leadership — including Kejriwal — had publicly amplified the harassment narrative before the investigation concluded. Gujarat Police's findings directly contradict the party's framing, alleging the threat call was orchestrated from within AAP ranks rather than by any state agency. This comes amid the AAP's ongoing efforts to expand its footprint in Gujarat, where it has faced repeated organisational challenges. Notably, the incident is the latest in a pattern of internal AAP disputes in the state surfacing in public and legal forums.
What Happens Next
Police have confirmed that investigation into the case is continuing, and further arrests or charges cannot be ruled out. The AAP is yet to issue a formal response to the police findings. The case is likely to intensify scrutiny of the party's Gujarat operations and its leadership's practice of amplifying unverified claims on social media before official inquiries are complete.
Point of View
Including Kejriwal, publicly weaponised an unverified harassment claim before any investigation was complete. If the police account holds up in court, this is not merely an embarrassment — it is evidence of a party willing to manufacture a state-versus-opposition narrative from what was allegedly an internal turf war. For a party that built its identity on transparency and anti-corruption, the optics of a city-unit president allegedly impersonating an intelligence official to push out a rival are particularly corrosive. The broader question is whether AAP's Gujarat expansion strategy, already fragile, can survive self-inflicted credibility damage of this scale.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were two AAP members arrested in Gujarat?
Gujarat Police arrested Ashok Oza , AAP Vadodara city president, and Nitin Dobariya , a labour contractor, after an investigation found they allegedly orchestrated a fake phone call impersonating an Intelligence Bureau official to threaten a fellow AAP worker. Police say the motive was an internal party rivalry, not any action by state agencies.
What did Arvind Kejriwal claim about the IB harassment?
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal reposted allegations on X that Gujarat Police's IB wing was intimidating party workers. He claimed to have personally called the number and spoken to someone who identified as an IB official, and he urged workers to publicise similar calls. Gujarat Police say their investigation found no IB involvement.
Who was targeted in the fake IB call?
AAP worker Keshavji Chauhan was the target. He had been sent to Vadodara by the AAP for organisational work, after which the Vadodara city unit president allegedly viewed him as a political rival and conspired to have him removed by impersonating an IB official.
What charges have been filed in the case?
A case has been registered at Anand Cyber Crime Police Station under Sections 61(2), 204, and 351(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 66-D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which deals with cheating by personation using computer resources.
What happens next in the investigation?
Both accused are in custody and police have confirmed that investigation is continuing. Further arrests or charges have not been ruled out. The AAP is yet to formally respond to the police findings.
