Excise case: Delhi Court reserves order for June 4 on cognisance of ED charge sheet against CM Kejriwal

A Delhi court on Tuesday reserved its order until June 4 on whether to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) supplementary charge sheet against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam.

The court will also decide whether to acknowledge the alleged offence against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), marking the first instance of a political party being booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the ED.

The supplementary charge sheet claims that bribes were received from Punjab businessmen to allow them to invest in the liquor trade in Delhi. The ED alleges that those businessmen from Punjab, also governed by the AAP, who did not comply with the demands were forced out of their ventures in the neighbouring state.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja reserved the order after hearing arguments from the ED, which asserted it has sufficient evidence to prosecute Kejriwal in the case.

The federal anti-money laundering agency told the court that Kejriwal, the national convener of AAP, and the party were deeply involved in the alleged scam. The ED has accused Kejriwal of being the “kingpin and key conspirator” of the scam, which also implicates other AAP leaders and private individuals.

The ED further alleged that Kejriwal was actively connected to the proceeds of the crime, which were allegedly used for the AAP’s campaign for the 2022 Goa assembly elections.

In its statements to the court, the ED claimed that officials from the Punjab excise department received bribes from traders to facilitate their investments in Delhi’s liquor businesses. Stakeholders willing to invest but not ready to meet the demands were forced out of the business. Some wholesalers in Punjab who refused to pay were also compelled to exit the industry.

The ED alleged that Vijay Nair, former AAP media in-charge and co-accused, had no official role in the excise department but claimed he could secure favorable provisions for prospective investors in exchange for party funds. Nair reportedly lived in a bungalow near the Chief Minister’s residence, frequently visited the CM’s residence, and met individuals on behalf of the Delhi government without any official capacity.

The ED asserted that Nair, whom Kejriwal endorsed as his representative, solicited favors from investors in the form of party contributions.

(With PTI inputs)