News Brief
ED Gets LG V K Saxena's Nod To Prosecute AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal In Delhi Excise Policy Case: Report
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has reportedly granted sanction to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy scam.
The ED had, on 5 December, sought permission to prosecute Kejriwal, writing to Delhi Chief Secretary Dharmendra in his capacity as Chief Vigilance Officer in this regard, Indian Express reported citing secretariat officials.
AAP denied the existence of any 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, IE reported.
The ED further mentioned that a Special Court had taken cognisance of the Prosecution Complaint on 9 July 2024.
It also said that the Supreme Court had, in the case of ED vs. Bibhu Prasad Acharya & others clarified, that the Provision of Cr. PC applied to Section 65 of the PMLA and Section 71(1) “cannot override the provision of Cr.PC which applies to the PMLA” vide its judgment dated 06.11.2024.
Saxena had later granted approval to prosecute Kejriwal in relation to the ED’s case, IE reported citing secretariat officials.
Reacting to the development, AAP stated, “The fact that they are talking about a prosecution sanction almost a year after the filing of the complaint shows the callousness with which the Enforcement Directorate is handling this case.”
The party described it as an effort to “politically malign the AAP government,” and accused the agency of having “breached every procedural norm” and harassment in the name of investigation.
“The so-called liquor scam investigation has dragged on for two years, harassing 500 people, filing 50,000 pages of documents, and conducting over 250 raids, not a single penny has been recovered,” the AAP alleged.
“And multiple holes in the case have been highlighted by various court orders in the past years. BJP’s real goal is to crush the AAP and Arvind Kejriwal by any means,” it added.
