Delhi liquorgate: Kejriwal's ED appearance likely today, AAP fears arrest
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal is expected to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday at around 11:00 am in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case. The AAP said that he might be arrested in the case, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to crush the party due to political vendetta.
ED cracks down on Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand
The ED on Thursday morning raided the residence of Delhi's Labour Minister Raaj Kumar Anand and nine other premises linked to him. The ED said the raids were in connection with a money laundering case but didn't confirm if it was related to the Delhi liquor policy case. Business Today reported that the raids are related to a customs case and alleged hawala transactions.
Kejriwal talked to one of the main accused: ED
Kejriwal has been summoned under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The CBI hasn't named him as an accused in the chargesheet. However, the ED in its preliminary complaint in January 2022 said that he spoke to Sameer Mahendru, one of the main accused, over a video call and asked him to continue working with co-accused Vijay Nair, the AAP's communication in charge.
Money trail of Rs. 338 crore 'tentatively established': SC
Several BJP leaders said that Kejriwal's arrest in the case is imminent since the Supreme Court noted that a money trail of Rs. 338 crore has been "tentatively established." The summons to Kejriwal came shortly after the SC rejected the bail plea of Keriwal's former deputy Manish Sisodia. AAP MP Sanjay Singh has also been arrested in the case.
What's the case?
The investigative agencies allege the Delhi Excise Police 2021-22—scrapped within seven months—led to cartelization by granting licenses to ineligible players for kickbacks, which were used for the AAP's Goa election campaign. The AAP government has dismissed the allegations, saying the policy would have resulted in an increase in revenue. However, the agencies say the policy caused massive financial losses to the exchequer.
Mamata Banerjee should also be arrested: West Bengal BJP leader
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee slammed the BJP-led Centre on Wednesday over ED's summons to Kejriwal saying that it was conspiring to arrest all opposition leaders before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. West Bengal BJP's general secretary Agnimitra Paul said that the ED could arrest Kejriwal after interrogation, adding that the probe agency should also interrogate Banerjee alleging, "She knows everything."
