KATHMANDU, Jan 15: The Union Home Ministry has granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over alleged irregularities in the controversial Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22. The decision follows an earlier nod from Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, as well as authorisation granted to the CBI in August 2024 to pursue a parallel investigation into the case.
This clearance comes just weeks before the Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled for February 5, where Kejriwal has declared his intention to contest. The development has sparked political controversy, with some accusing the BJP-led central government of attempting to target the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the polls.
The case stems from allegations that Kejriwal was involved in a Rs 100 crore bribery scandal linked to the now-scrapped excise policy. According to the ED, a portion of these funds—Rs 45 crore—was allegedly funneled into AAP's campaign for the Goa elections. The agency claims Kejriwal, as AAP's national convenor, played a central role in formulating the policy and demanded kickbacks through his associates.
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The ED’s charge sheet, filed on May 17, accuses Kejriwal of being the "kingpin" behind the policy’s irregularities, working alongside his former deputy Manish Sisodia and ex-AAP media head Vijay Nair to secure additional funds for election purposes. Witness statements in the charge sheet allege that Kejriwal actively oversaw the misappropriation of funds and coordinated their use for political campaigns. The agency claims to have traced Rs 1,100 crore in proceeds from the crime.
Kejriwal, who was arrested by the ED in March 2024 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), was later released on bail. The Supreme Court, in November 2024, ruled that agencies like the ED must seek prior approval for prosecution in such cases, delaying charges against Kejriwal. The apex court granted him bail in September 2024, following which he resigned as Delhi’s Chief Minister, and senior AAP leader Atishi assumed the position.
In addition, the ED has named Vinod Chauhan, a close aide of Kejriwal, as a key figure in the case, alleging that he facilitated the transfer of Rs 25.5 crore in bribe money from Delhi to Goa for AAP’s campaign. Kejriwal has vehemently denied all charges, labeling them as politically motivated.
Meanwhile, Manish Sisodia, who spent 17 months in prison over related charges, was released in August 2024 and has been nominated by AAP to contest from the Jangpura constituency in the upcoming polls.
With the Delhi elections drawing closer, the case has added fuel to the ongoing political battle, with Kejriwal’s party and its opponents trading accusations over the timing and implications of the charges.
[With agency inputs]
