“Kingpin” Kejriwal, says ED
Once hailed as an anti-corruption crusader, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appeared before a court on Friday. The Enforcement Directorate labeled him a “key conspirator” in the liquor scam case and requested ten days in detention. At the Rouse Avenue court, the ED informed Special Judge Kaveri Baweja that Kejriwal was paid many crores of rupees in bribes by the “South group” for creating and executing the Delhi Excise Policy 2021–2022. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, who is representing the federal anti-money laundering agency in court, said that he requested Rs 100 crore from certain accused members of the “South group” for their electoral contests.
According to the law officer, the money trail demonstrated that four hawala methods accounted for the Rs 45 crore “kickback” used in the Goa assembly elections. He added that Call Detail Records (CDR) supported the accused’s and witnesses’ allegations. In the midst of heavy security on the court grounds and surrounding it, the AAP head was brought before the judge around 2:00 pm. “We have submitted a request for a 10-day remand,” ASG Raju informed the court. He said that the AAP is a corporation rather than an individual and that everyone accountable for the actions of the firm would face consequences. The agency said that in addition to his personal liability, Kejriwal was also vicariously liable for the deeds of his accomplices.
After withdrawing his appeal against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate from the Supreme Court, Kejriwal appeared before the special ED court. The petition will be considered throughout the day, the highest court said. The action was taken shortly after BRS leader K. Kavitha, who has also been detained by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi excise policy fraud case, was denied bail by the Supreme Court.
When Kejriwal was arrested, protests broke out in the nation’s capital, drawing hundreds of AAP employees and sympathizers to the streets. With the catchphrases “tyranny won’t last” and “Arvind tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare sath hain,” they gathered close to the AAP headquarters.
Many of them were imprisoned, including two important ministers in the Kejriwal government, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi. They were removed from police buses for breaking Section 144 after they refused to leave the ITO crossroads, which is near the AAP and BJP headquarters.
The Enforcement Department (ED) has claimed that Kejriwal is the “kingpin” of the alleged scam, and that Vijay Nair, the party’s communication in-charge, served as his conduit to the south cartel, which allegedly paid kickbacks of Rs 100 crore to the ruling party in Delhi in exchange for favors such as wholesale and retail liquor licenses. It said that large sums of money were handed in cash to AAP candidates and that these monies were utilized for the Goa assembly elections.
