In a significant development ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the controversial excise policy case.
Prosecution Approval Granted
On December 5, the ED formally sought sanction for prosecution against Kejriwal, following months of investigation into the Delhi government’s now-scrapped excise policy. The LG’s nod marks a critical turn in the high-profile case, adding legal pressure on Kejriwal as well as the AAP leadership.
Court Proceedings in Motion
Amid this development, the Delhi High Court on Friday allowed the ED additional time to file its reply to a petition submitted by Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. The duo had challenged the trial court’s decision to acknowledge the chargesheets filed by the ED in the excise policy case. The matter has now been listed for further hearing on February 5 by Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri.
Allegations of Corruption and Kickbacks
The ED alleges that the excise policy was deliberately designed to favor select private entities and AAP leaders. The accusations include receiving kickbacks from liquor businesses in exchange for preferential benefits, such as license fee waivers and relaxed regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic. These funds were allegedly diverted to influence AAP’s electoral campaigns in Punjab and Goa.
According to the ED, the policy’s structure, including fixed margins for distributors, fostered a cartel-like arrangement that financially benefited AAP leaders. Specifically, the ED claims that a 6% kickback was routed back to the party from a 12% margin offered to private liquor wholesalers.
Legal Challenges Ahead
Kejriwal and Sisodia are currently out on bail in cases registered by both the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The legal battle surrounding the case is expected to intensify in the coming months, potentially influencing the political narrative leading up to the Delhi elections.
Political Repercussions
This latest development raises the stakes for AAP, which has consistently denied any wrongdoing and accused central agencies of political vendetta. The timing of the prosecution approval, just months before the assembly elections, could impact AAP’s standing in Delhi, a state where it has held significant political clout.
As the legal proceedings unfold, all eyes will remain on the upcoming court hearings and their implications for Kejriwal’s political career and the AAP’s electoral prospects.