AAP To Be Made Accused In Delhi Excise Policy Scam Case: ED To High Court

Financial probe agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was going to be made an accused in the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy scam.

The ED also told the Delhi HC that several accused in the case were trying to delay the trial.

Special counsel Zoheb Hossain appearing for ED also informed Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma that the agency will also file a supplementary complaint/chargesheet in the case.

Notably, the bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had, while dismissing challenge to the arrest of the party’s convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, held that a political party can be brought within the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Three top AAP leaders including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, have been arrested and jailed in the Delhi liquor policy case so far. Additionally, K Kavitha, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, has faced similar action in the case.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

The Delhi government led by Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal introduced the new excise policy in November 2021. In July 2022 Lt Governor VK Saxena recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in formulation and implementation of policy.

In August 2022, the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered cases in connection with the alleged irregularities. In September 2022, the Delhi government scrapped the contentious policy.

On March 21, 2024, the Delhi HC refused to grant protection from arrest to Kejriwal on his petition challenging summonses issued by the probe agency to him and the ED arrested Kejriwal shortly after.

On March 23, Kejriwal moved Delhi HC challenging his arrest by ED and trial court order remanding him in the agency’s custody. On April 9, HC dismissed Kejriwal’s petition against arrest by ED.

On April 10, Kejriwal moves the Supreme Court challenging the HC order upholding his arrest by ED. On May 10, the Supreme Court (SC) granted an interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1 given the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, saying he would have to surrender and go back to jail on June 2.

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