The Union Home Ministry has authorized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to initiate prosecution against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for their alleged involvement in money laundering related to the liquor scam case. Have done.
The sanction orders against these Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders were received earlier this month, the latest development in the case related to alleged irregularities in the now-canceled Delhi Liquor Policy for 2021-22.
This step has been taken at a time when both the leaders are out on bail in the case, as the Supreme Court had ordered the release of Arvind Kejriwal on regular bail in September last year, while a month ago in August, Manish Sisodia was also released on alleged Was released on bail in cases related to Delhi Liquor Policy Scam.
The development assumes significance as a special PMLA court in Delhi had delayed framing charges against Arvind Kejriwal after he challenged the trial court’s decision to take cognizance of the chargesheet in the absence of specific sanction for prosecution under the PMLA. Was.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has filed a chargesheet against Arvind Kejriwal under the Prevention of Corruption Act, got the necessary sanction for prosecution in August last year.
The decision comes after the Supreme Court on November 6 ruled that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) can also be prosecuted under Section 197(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (now Section 197(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (now Indian Civil Protection Code) in money laundering cases. Prior permission will have to be taken for prosecution under Section 218), which is necessary for the CBI.
Framing of charges against Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case in a Delhi court was delayed due to lack of necessary sanction.
Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have been accused of taking bribes from ‘South Group’, a cartel that controls the sale and distribution of liquor in Delhi and is allegedly responsible for the government of Delhi for 2021-22. Earns profit from the excise policy implemented by the Government.
So far, ED has conducted searches at 245 locations across the country including Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and other places in this case. So far, more than a dozen people including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and AAP’s Vijay Nair have been arrested in this case.
The ED had arrested Arvind Kejriwal on March 21 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and also included his name in the charge sheet filed on May 17. The ED alleges that out of the alleged bribe of Rs 100 crore received to favor some liquor traders, Rs 45 crore was used for AAP’s election campaign in Goa.
The ED claims that Arvind Kejriwal, as national convenor and member of AAP’s national executive, was ultimately responsible for overseeing the funds and activities. The agency described Kejriwal as the “brain” behind AAP, saying he controls the party’s operations.
Citing statements of witnesses, the ED also accused Kejriwal of playing a key role in taking policy decisions and demanding bribes. ED claims to have identified total criminal proceeds of Rs 1,100 crore.
Kejriwal, along with his then deputy Manish Sisodia and former AAP media chief Vijay Nair, is accused of raising additional funds for the election campaign through bribes worth Rs 100 crore. The ED has described Kejriwal as the “kingpin” behind the irregularities related to the excise policy.