Get Instant Loan up to ₹10 Lakh!
Trouble for Kejriwal? Delhi LG approves ED to prosecute AAP chief in excise case, Sanjay Singh calls it ‘baseless’
On December 5, the Enforcement Directorate sought permission for sanction of prosecution against Arvind Kejriwal.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena reportedly granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case. The move came ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025, when Kejriwal's party will fight to retain power in the Union Territory.
The Enforcement Directorate had on December 5 sought permission for sanction of prosecution against Arvind Kejriwal, news agency ANI reported.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh termed the reports about Delhi LG's approval “baseless”. He said, "Since this morning, baseless news has been circulating. Delhi LG VK Saxena has not given any approval to ED to prosecute. If the ED has received any letter from LG to prosecute, then that letter should be made public. That's why it is a baseless news."
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Friday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) additional time to file its reply to the petition filed by Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia.
The petition challenged the trial court's decision to take cognizance of the chargesheets in the Delhi Excise Liquor Policy case. The matter has been scheduled for hearing on February 5, by the bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri.
Recently, the Delhi High Court issued a notice on AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia plea challenging the trial court's decision to take cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet against them in the alleged excise policy scam.
Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are currently out on bail in both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases related to the now-scrapped excise policy.
According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Excise Policy was deliberately designed with loopholes to benefit AAP leaders and foster cartel formations. The ED accused AAP leaders of receiving kickbacks from liquor businesses in exchange for preferential treatment, including discounts, license fee waivers, and relief during the Covid-19 disruptions.
The ED further alleged that the "scam" involved awarding wholesale liquor distribution rights to private entities with a fixed 12% margin, in return for a 6% kickback. Additionally, AAP leaders were accused of influencing the outcome of elections in Punjab and Goa in early 2022.
(With inputs from ANI)
Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
Business NewsNewsTrouble for Kejriwal? Delhi LG approves ED to prosecute AAP chief in excise case, Sanjay Singh calls it ‘baseless’
First Published:21 Dec 2024, 01:18 PM IST
- Top Gainers
- Top Losers
- 52 Week High