The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has identified Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as a central figure in the purported irregularities surrounding the 2021-22 Delhi excise policy. In a 32-page remand application submitted to the Rouse Avenue court, the federal agency labeled Kejriwal as the “kingpin” and “key conspirator” in the case, asserting his role as the convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) positioned him for potential prosecution for money laundering.
According to the ED, Kejriwal allegedly orchestrated the excise policy to favor select individuals and solicited kickbacks from liquor businessmen. The agency further claimed that AAP directly benefitted from the proceeds of these illicit activities, which were purportedly utilized during election campaigns.
The agency is seeking Kejriwal’s custody for 10 days, citing his purported vicarious liability for offenses committed by the party. They allege that Kejriwal leveraged his position as both Delhi’s Chief Minister and the head of AAP to facilitate money laundering offenses.
However, legal representatives for Kejriwal, including senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Vikram Chaudhary, and Ramesh Gupta, rebuffed the accusations, arguing that there is no direct evidence against their client. They contended that requests for interrogation should not be granted solely based on statements from accused individuals seeking leniency.
ED’s remand application also alleges that AAP received approximately ₹100 crore in bribes, with Kejriwal purportedly utilizing around ₹45 crore of the kickback proceeds during AAP’s election campaign in Goa in 2022. The agency claims to have uncovered evidence of cash payments to individuals involved in AAP’s campaign activities in Goa, purportedly managed by party officials Vijay Nair and Durgesh Pathak.
The ED’s assertion extends to linking Kejriwal directly to the generation and utilization of kickbacks. They claim that as the head of AAP, Kejriwal was inherently involved in the entire scheme, from policy formulation to executing the alleged kickback arrangement with the so-called “South Group” and subsequently employing the funds in AAP’s Goa campaign.
Amidst these allegations, the ED disclosed that documents retrieved during searches at Kejriwal’s residence purportedly contained information about two senior ED officials, suggesting an attempt to gather intelligence on their activities.
The agency’s allegations paint a complex picture, placing Kejriwal at the center of a web of purported financial misconduct, while legal representatives for the Delhi Chief Minister vehemently deny any wrongdoing on his part.
