In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended Chanpreet Singh, the alleged manager of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) funds for the Goa assembly elections in 2022. Singh is accused of procuring funds through bribes linked to the Delhi excise policy for 2021-22, as revealed by sources familiar with the matter on Monday.
Presenting evidence before a court on Saturday, the ED asserted a substantial connection between Chanpreet Singh and key figures involved in the Delhi liquor probe. Singh, who was taken into custody on April 12, became the 17th individual arrested by the ED in this case. Notably, he had previously faced arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in May 2023.
Officials conducting the probe allege that Singh was responsible for collecting funds from hawala operators and disbursing them for AAP’s expenses during the Goa elections. An anonymous official disclosed, “He managed cash payments made to survey workers, assembly managers, and others associated with AAP.”
The ED has underscored a deep nexus between Chanpreet Singh and major figures implicated in the Delhi liquor probe, including Vijay Nair, Rajesh Joshi, AAP leaders, and the party itself. It is claimed that AAP received approximately ₹100 crore in bribes from the South Group, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal allegedly utilizing about ₹45 crore of illicit proceeds for AAP’s election campaign in Goa in 2022.
The South Group, consisting of prominent individuals like YSR Congress MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy and Delhi businessman Sameer Mahendru, controlled a significant portion of retail liquor zones in Delhi. Kejriwal and Kavitha, among others, were arrested last month and are presently detained in Tihar prison.
The Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 aimed to revitalize the liquor business in the city, promising improved customer experiences and introducing discounts and offers. However, the policy faced scrutiny and was replaced prematurely amid allegations of irregularities, prompting investigations into alleged sabotage and bribery, casting a shadow over AAP’s involvement in the electoral process.
