In yet another trouble for Arvind Kejriwal, ahead of the upcoming 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, Delhi LG VK Saxena on Saturday sanctioned the Enforcement Directorate to prosecute AAP chief and former Delhi CM in the excise policy case, the LG office informed.
The high court refused to stay the trial court proceedings for now in the criminal case. While Kejriwal was granted an interim bail by the Supreme Court on July 12 in the money laundering case, the apex court released him on bail in the CBI case on September 13.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Friday granted the ED additional time to file its reply to the petition filed by Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. The petition challenges the trial court’s decision to take cognizance of the chargesheets in the Delhi excise liquor policy case. The matter has been scheduled for hearing on February 5, by the Bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri.
According to officials, the ED had, on December 5, sought permission to prosecute Kejriwal, writing to Delhi Chief Secretary Dharmendra in his capacity as Chief Vigilance Officer in this regard.
However, the AAP claimed that there was no such sanction, accusing the ED of callousness in investigating the case in relation to which several senior leaders from the party were jailed, including Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia.
“It is to inform that this office has filed the Prosecution Complaint (SPC-7) against Sh. Arvind Kejriwal (Accused No. 37) on, 17.05.2024 in the case M/s Indo-Spirits and Others for irregularities in framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD of Delhi for the year 2021-22” the request for sanction stated.
According to the ED, the excise policy was deliberately designed with loopholes to benefit AAP leaders and foster cartel formations. The ED accused the AAP leaders of receiving kickbacks from liquor businesses in exchange for preferential treatment, including discounts, license fee waivers, and relief during the Covid-19 disruptions.
The ED further alleged that the “scam” involved awarding wholesale liquor distribution rights to private entities with a fixed 12% margin, in return for a 6% kickback. Additionally, AAP leaders were accused of influencing the outcome of elections in Punjab and Goa in early 2022.
