Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Saturday, 31 May launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of fabricating allegations against the state police after an investigation into a purported Intelligence Bureau (IB) verification call led to the arrest of two men — including Ashok Oza, President of AAP's Vadodara city unit. The case, registered at Anand Cyber Crime Police Station, has turned a political controversy into a criminal matter, with investigators alleging the entire episode was rooted in internal rivalry within the AAP.

How the controversy unfolded

The sequence of events began on 28 May, when former Delhi MLA and AAP leader Durgesh Pathak posted on social media platform X alleging that Gujarat Police's IB wing was threatening AAP workers. Kejriwal subsequently amplified the claim, stating he had personally dialled the number in question and that the individual who answered identified himself as an IB officer. Kejriwal publicly questioned under what authority such verification calls were being made and urged other recipients to come forward.

What the investigation found

Following the social media posts, Anand district police traced the mobile number cited in the allegations to a resident of the district. Investigators identified the caller as Nitin Dobariya, a labour contractor originally from Rajkot district, and alleged that the call had been orchestrated by Ashok Oza. According to police, a call was made from Dobariya's phone to AAP worker Keshavji Chauhan, during which the caller falsely claimed to be speaking from the 'Karelibaug IB Office' and allegedly threatened him under the guise of a verification exercise. Investigators further alleged the call was motivated by internal political rivalry — Oza allegedly viewed Chauhan, who had been assigned organisational work in Vadodara, as a rival and sought to intimidate him into leaving the city.

Sanghavi's political counter-attack

Deputy CM Sanghavi did not limit his response to the legal findings. 'The number you called belongs to your own man. Why are you building a bundle of lies by portraying him as an IB officer?' he said, addressing Kejriwal directly. He escalated further: 'World records are broken by the best. In fraud, in lies, in fakeness, Kejriwal stands undefeated.' Sanghavi added, 'What can one expect from a party whose very foundation rests on lies? This is the character of Kejriwal and his associates — tell lies, tell them loudly and tell them repeatedly.' He closed with a pointed warning: 'But Kejriwal ji, this is Gujarat. Here you will have to face the truth.'

Legal sections invoked

A case has been registered under Sections 61(2), 204, and 351(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 66-D of the Information Technology Act — provisions covering criminal intimidation, impersonation, and cheating by personation through electronic communication. Police confirmed that further investigation is ongoing.

What happens next

With the AAP yet to formally respond to the arrest of its Vadodara unit chief, the episode is likely to sharpen political tensions in Gujarat ahead of future electoral cycles. The ongoing investigation may surface additional details about the alleged internal dynamics within the party's state unit, adding a new dimension to what began as a political allegation against the state's law-enforcement machinery.