After ED Alleges Kejriwal, Sisodia Conspired For Delhi Liquor Policy With Kavitha, AAP Questions, "Is It Political Party?"

After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in its press release on the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi questioned why the ED is issuing press statements.

In a press release issued on Monday (18 March), the ED mentioned Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter K Kavitha's arrest and her remand till 23 March for custodial interrogation.

"ED investigation revealed that Ms K Kavitha along with others conspired with the top leaders of AAP including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia for getting favours in the Delhi Excise policy formulation and implementation," the release said.

The ED alleged that in exchange for these favours, Kavitha paid Rs 100 crore to AAP leaders. "A continuous stream of illegal funds in the form of kickback, from the wholesalers was generated for the AAP," the ED said.

In response, Atishi read out a Supreme Court observation to refute these allegations. "Why is ED issuing press releases? Is it a political party? PC is given by political parties. ED giving press releases itself is a big question," she added.

To date, the ED has conducted searches on 245 locations across the country including Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai in liquor policy case. 15 persons including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Vijay Nair from AAP have been arrested in the case so far.

AAP's national convener Kejriwal too has been summoned by the ED multiple times in the case and faced court over non-compliance. After he skipped eight summonses, the ninth summons asked him to appear on 21 March.

Kejriwal has been calling these summonses illegal and claiming that no money has been recovered in the case despite elaborate searches. However, the ED said that out of Proceeds of Crime generated, assets worth Rs 128.79 crore have been traced and attached.