The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding a plea filed by Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi’s Chief Minister and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), challenging his arrest in connection with the money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy.
The bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, has asked for the response of the central agency and scheduled the next hearing for April 29.
The court directed, “Issue notice, returnable on April 24. Notice is accepted by the respondent who are present in court on caveat. Reply to be filed on or before April 24 and rejoinder on or before April 27. Post on April 29.”
The plea by Kejriwal challenges his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate and subsequent remand in the excise policy case. The Delhi High Court had recently rejected his plea, stating that there was evidence indicating Kejriwal’s involvement in the scam. It was also noted that the money received as kickbacks was allegedly used for political campaigning in the 2022 Goa legislative assembly elections.
This has led to Kejriwal’s appeal before the Supreme Court. The ED’s money laundering probe originates from a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 17, 2022, concerning alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22.
The CBI case was initiated based on a complaint lodged by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on July 20, 2022. It’s alleged that a criminal conspiracy involving AAP leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and other unnamed individuals/entities, occurred during the policy’s formulation stage.
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The alleged conspiracy was purportedly facilitated by intentionally created loopholes in the policy, favoring certain licensees and conspirators post the tender process. Several AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia and Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh, have been arrested by the ED in connection with the case.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 and was initially remanded to ED custody till March 28. Subsequently, his custody was extended till April 1, followed by judicial custody until April 15. Presently, he is detained in Tihar Jail.
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