Union Home Ministry Clears Path for ED Prosecution of Arvind Kejriwal

In a significant development, 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 Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. This decision, made after extensive legal proceedings and investigations, marks a crucial step in the ongoing case.

Union Home Ministry Clears Path for ED Prosecution of Arvind Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal

The ED had arrested Kejriwal in March 2024 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and named him in a charge sheet in May 2024. The agency accuses Kejriwal of being involved in a ₹100 crore bribe scheme to benefit certain liquor traders. According to the ED, ₹45 crore of this bribe was allegedly used for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Goa election campaign. The ED has labeled Kejriwal as the "kingpin" of the irregularities related to the excise policy, alleging that he demanded kickbacks and managed the funds used and generated as AAP's national convenor and a member of the national executive.

The Supreme Court had previously ruled that the ED must obtain prior sanction for prosecution in money laundering cases, similar to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This ruling had delayed the framing of charges against Kejriwal in a Delhi court. However, with the Union Home Ministry's recent approval, the ED can now proceed with the prosecution.

Throughout the investigation, Kejriwal has consistently denied all charges, maintaining his innocence. The case has attracted significant attention, with the ED alleging that Kejriwal, along with his then-deputy Manish Sisodia and former AAP media in charge Vijay Nair, requested additional funds beyond the ₹100 crore kickbacks for their election funding. The agency also claims that Vinod Chauhan, a close associate of Kejriwal, managed the transfer of ₹25.5 crore bribe money from Delhi to Goa for AAP.

As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications for Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party. The Union Home Ministry's approval for prosecution represents a pivotal moment in the investigation into the Delhi excise policy scandal.

Aryan Sharma

Aryan Sharma is a writer, an author, compiler and an editor. He is known best for his International compilation, World Of Words. He has several credits to his meritocracy like honing skills from being a management student to being a judge at national level writing contests etc.

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