Ahead of the upcoming 2025 Delhi Assembly Polls, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute AAP Chief and Former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, in the Liquor Policy Scam.
On December 5, the Enforcement Directorate sought permission for sanction of prosecution against Arvind Kejriwal. This move comes after months of investigations into the Delhi government’s liquor policy, which has been at the center of controversy and allegations of corruption.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Friday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) additional time to file its reply to the petition filed by Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. The petition challenges the trial court’s decision to take cognizance of the chargesheets in the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam.
The matter has been scheduled for hearing on February 5, by the bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri.
Recently Delhi High Court had issued a notice on Aam Aadmi Party’ leader Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia plea challenging the trial court’s decision to take cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet against them in the alleged Liquor Policy Scam.
Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are currently out on bail in both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases related to the now-scrapped liquor policy.
According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the liquor Policy was deliberately designed with loopholes to benefit AAP leaders and foster cartel formations. The ED accused 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 per cent margin, in return for a 6 per cent kickback. Additionally, AAP leaders were accused of influencing the outcome of elections in Punjab and Goa in early 2022.
(with inputs from ANI)
