Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in an alleged liquor scam. The agency is investigating the money laundering aspect of the case and has asked Kejriwal to appear at their Delhi office on November 2. This summons comes after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had previously summoned Kejriwal in April for questioning regarding the same issue.
Senior AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the central government of attempting to destroy the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by creating a fake case. He claimed that their objective is to send Kejriwal to jail and dismantle the party. The Supreme Court’s rejection of former Deputy Manish Sisodia’s bail plea in the case earlier today further intensified the situation. The judges disclosed that a presumed money trail of Rs 338 crore has been established in the case and emphasized the need for a chain of evidence to be established.
In a 41-page order, the court agreed with the CBI’s argument that there was a “carefully hatched conspiracy” to benefit a select few individuals financially. The excise policy, which would have allowed liquor companies to make a 12 percent profit, was allegedly influenced by a liquor lobby known as the “South Group” that paid kickbacks, some of which were funneled to public servants. The Enforcement Directorate has accused them of money laundering.
Following the court’s ruling, leaders of Delhi’s BJP unit called for Kejriwal’s resignation. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva stated that the court’s order provided sufficient grounds for the Chief Minister to step down. The CBI maintains that liquor companies played a role in formulating the excise policy, which would have ensured significant profits for them.
