Arvind Kejriwal is to be Prosecuted in Delhi Liquor Policy Case; AAP Denies Allegations

Delhi, December 21, 2024

Delhi Liquor Policy Case: In a significant move before the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the alleged excise policy scam. The decision came 15 days after the ED sought sanction following months of investigation into the now-scrapped policy.

The case, which has cast a shadow over AAP leadership, alleges that the excise policy of the Delhi government was designed to benefit particular liquor businesses. According to ED, kickbacks were provided to AAP leaders in exchange for preferential treatment including discounts, waivers on license fees and Covid-19 relief.

AAP Refutes Claims, Calls News “Misleading”

Senior AAP leaders labeled the allegations as false when responding to the reports. A close associate of Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, questioned the genuineness of the permission sanction. “If LG Binay Saxena has allowed the prosecution of Arvind Kejriwal, then why ED is not displaying a copy of that permission? This is false and misleading news to divert the attention of public,” Sisodia wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

अगर LG बिनय सक्सेना जी ने अरविंद केजरीवाल जी के खिलाफ मुकदमा चलाने की मंजूरी दी है, तो ED उस मंजूरी की कॉपी क्यों नहीं दिखा रही? यह साफ है कि यह खबर झूठ और गुमराह करने वाली है।

बाबा साहब के अपमान के मुद्दे से ध्यान भटकाने के लिए जुमलेबाजी बंद करो और दिखाओ कहाँ है ED को मुकदमा…

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) December 21, 2024

Similarly, AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar accused the ED and the central government of spreading misinformation. “If the LG has indeed approved the prosecution, let them produce the evidence. Until then, this remains a ploy to tarnish the image of AAP ahead of elections,” she said.

LG सक्सेना ने ED को केजरीवाल जी के ख़िलाफ़ मुकदमा चलाने की कोई मंज़ूरी नहीं दी है। ये झूठी ख़बर है। अगर ED को मंज़ूरी दी है तो उसकी कॉपी दिखाओ।

— Priyanka Kakkar (@PKakkar_) December 21, 2024

Legal Troubles Mount for Kejriwal and Sisodia

This latest controversy adds to the growing legal woes of AAP’s top leadership. Kejriwal and Sisodia are currently out on bail in related cases filed by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Delhi High Court recently issued a notice against their plea challenging a trial court’s decision to accept the ED’s chargesheet in the excise policy case.

The chargesheet has been filed with the allegations that the excise policy had loopholes designed to promote cartel formations, which ultimately benefited AAP leaders. The ED claims that these actions led to significant financial losses for the state while fostering corruption.

Political Implications Ahead of 2025 Elections

With Delhi Assembly elections just months away, the controversy has become a critical issue for AAP. The party, which rose to power on an anti-corruption platform, now faces allegations that could undermine its credibility among voters.

The BJP, AAP’s principal political opponent, has not lost the chance to lash out against the party by calling for a transparent and accountable approach. “Kejriwal and his team must answer these serious allegations. Their silence only proves their guilt,” a BJP spokesperson said.

While the LG’s sanction for prosecution marks a milestone in the ongoing investigation, it has also raised many questions over the timing and political implications of the move. As the battle for Delhi intensifies, the excise policy case is set to remain a focal point in the political discourse.