Delhi Excise Policy case | Business Upturn

Kejriwal appeals to Supreme Court amidst ED’s allegations – Here’s everything you need to know

Matrika Shukla — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:58:52 +0000

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal is facing potential arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged irregularities in the city’s excise policy. The ED, India’s federal anti-money laundering agency, has been probing the liquor policy case and has summoned Kejriwal multiple times, which he did not comply with.

AAP leaders Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj had indicated their apprehensions about Kejriwal’s likely arrest by the ED today.

ED’s Allegations

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been relentlessly pursuing its money laundering investigation into the alleged irregularities and corruption in Delhi’s now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has repeatedly failed to appear before the ED despite being summoned eight times since November 2022, dismissing the summons as “illegal and politically motivated.”

According to the ED’s claims, a conspiracy was hatched by several political leaders, including Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, and Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s K. Kavitha (who was arrested last week). The alleged conspiracy involved framing the new excise policy to unduly benefit a “South Group” comprising certain liquor businessmen like Sarath Reddy, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, and Kavitha herself.

The ED alleges that this “South Group” was granted an inordinate number of retail zones – 9 out of the total 32 zones in Delhi – under the new excise policy. Moreover, the policy itself was structured with exorbitantly high-profit margins of 12% for wholesalers and a staggering 185% for retailers, which the agency claims was done intentionally.

As per the ED’s allegations, the conspiracy entailed collecting 6% of the 12% profit margin from the wholesalers as kickbacks, which would eventually make its way to the top AAP leaders like Kejriwal and Sisodia as illegal gratification amounting to ₹100 crores.

While Kejriwal and AAP have vehemently denied any wrongdoing, the ED seems convinced of the Chief Minister’s complicity based on evidence like his name appearing in witness statements, the frequent visits of accused Vijay Nair to Kejriwal’s office, and other documented trails.

“Politically motivated”, says Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have vehemently criticized the ED’s investigation as being “illegal and politically motivated.” They allege that the probe is a vengeful tactic by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the centre to target their government in Delhi. Kejriwal has portrayed himself as a victim of the BJP’s political vendetta, aimed at maligning his image and that of his party through these corruption allegations. By branding the summons as illegal, Kejriwal seems to be questioning the legitimacy of the ED’s actions and dismissing the charges as baseless.

Going to the SC

Moving swiftly after being denied relief by the Delhi High Court, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urgently approached the Supreme Court in the evening, seeking protection from any coercive action by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the excise policy. The AAP leader rushed to the apex court mere hours after the high court refused to grant him any reprieve, such as bail or quashing of the ED summons, in the ongoing excise police investigation against him.

The article has been modified using artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Excise Policy Scam Case: ED raids AAP minister Raaj Kumar Anand’s residence over money laundering charges

Shreyansh Raghuvanshi — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 15:05:45 +0000

The Enforcement directorate (ED) made a raid on the residence of Aam Aadmi party (AAP) minister Raaj Kumar Anand (Labor minister Delhi) in a connection with money laundering case on Thursday morning. The raid was made at minister’s residence in the Civil Lines area followed by several other premises.

The raid against Raaj Kumar Anand was made because of the charge sheet filed by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on charges of false declarations in imports for customs evasion of more than ₹7 crore apart from international hawala transactions, the sources said. The probe is taken under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMlA).

#WATCH | ED raid underway at the residence of Delhi Minister Raaj Kumar Anand in Civil Lines area. Searches started early morning today. Raids are underway at 9 premises linked to him. Details awaited pic.twitter.com/2Q0ZuFIjGo

— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2023

Raaj Kumar Anand is a 57-year-old labor minister and an MLA from Patel Nagar. Other MP’s of AAP are already in jail with connection to different cases while AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal is also summoned for ED questioning on connection with Delhi’s liquor policy case. The questioning is scheduled for today and security has been tightened at the ED office on the Tughlaq Road ahead of Arvind Kejriwal’s appearance before the Central agency.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha said that with the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, other opposition leader will also be targeted.

ED summons Kejriwal in Delhi Excise Policy Case

United News of India (UNI) — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 09:07:02 +0000

New Delhi, Oct 30 : Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on November 2 for questioning in an alleged Delhi excise policy case, AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj informed through a video message.

Taking a dig at BJP-led Central government, Bhardwaj alleged Centre wants to “finish” AAP by registering “false” cases. “The Central government wants to put Arvind Kejriwal in jail by registering false case and finish AAP.”

Talking about the ED summons, he informed that the probe agency has send a summons to CM Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on November 2.

Earlier this month, ED had arrested AAP leader and MP Sanjay Singh after raids at his residence and 10 hours questioning in connection with alleged Delhi liquor police case. The probe agency had questioned him for over 10 hours in a case linked to the Delhi liquor policy.

Singh is the third leader of AAP who has been arrested by ED earlier this month in this case,

AAP’s leader Vijay Nair last year, former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in February and Sanjay Singh in October this year.

Manish Sisodia charged as 29th accused in ED’s chargesheet for Delhi Liquor Policy Case

Avinash Ram — Thu, 04 May 2023 13:26:36 +0000

Manish Sisodia has been included as the 29th accused in the excise policy case in the ED charge sheet that was presented at Rouse Avenue Court.

Former Delhi NCT Deputy CM Sisodia had requested temporary bail in the Delhi Excise Policy Case in order to care for his unwell wife, but the CBI objected, alleging that he covered up the fact that she had been discharged.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Sisodia’s wife has already been released from the hospital; nevertheless, this crucial detail was not brought up in his request for temporary bail. Her condition has become better, the discharge memo stated.

“Every husband has a responsibility to care for his wife,” Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma declared verbally.

This is the pledge made at the time of the marriage’s solemnization, hastily added senior attorney Mohit Mathur, who is representing Sisodia.

In circumstances when a person’s physical condition continues to be poor, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, speaking for the CBI, said he will be the first to suggest that relief be given.

In the money laundering case connected to the ‘scam’ around the Delhi Liquor Policy Case, the Enforcement Directorate filed a supplemental charge sheet that totaled 2,500 pages and listed former Delhi deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as an accused.

Sisodia was taken into custody on February 26 and March 9 by the CBI and ED, respectively, for suspected corruption in the creation and implementation of the now-cancelled Delhi Excise Policy 2021–2022, as well as for allegedly laundering the revenue of the policy.

Sisodia has submitted both a normal bail petition and an interim bail application on the grounds that his wife is unwell. Last month, as her health deteriorated, his wife was taken to Apollo Hospital in Delhi. For the past 23 years, Seema Sisodia has been receiving therapy for multiple sclerosis, a condition that affects the central nervous system.

According to the ED, there was a “conspiracy” developed by Vijay Nair, the leader of the AAP, and other members of a “South Group” to provide private wholesalers unfair profits. According to the organization, the excise policy was changed to guarantee private wholesalers a 12 percent commercial profit.

In addition, the agency said that Sisodia had destroyed 14 mobile phones, out of which two were found by the ED, and used SIM cards and phones purchased in other leaders’ names. The accusations of evidence destruction had been refuted by Sisodia.

On March 31, the trial court rejected Sisodia’s request for bail in the case, declaring that he was “prima facie the architect” of the “scam” and had played the “most important and vital role” in the criminal conspiracy involving the alleged payment of advance kickbacks of Rs 90–100 crore intended for him and his colleagues in the Delhi government.

The high court had already sent the CBI a notice requesting that it respond to Sisodia’s routine bail application. The trial court’s decision to refuse him bail in the case has been contested by him.

The claim that he received revenues from crime, according to his lawyer was “all in air” and there was no evidence of a money trail that would have led to him.

The lower court has not taken into account the wife of the AAP leader, who has multiple sclerosis, according to prior statements made by Sisodia’s lawyer. The state of Sisodia’s wife, he claimed, was getting worse.

The CBI has rejected his request for bail, claiming that Sisodia and businessman Vijay Nair are the key conspirators and that the excise policy was twisted to facilitate cartelization and monopolization in the spirits trade in the national capital.

In its written response rejecting Sisodia’s request for bail, the CBI asserted that the AAP leader was involved in the conduct of serious economic crimes and was essential to figuring out the crime’s methodology.

It said that the bail request lacked substance and was an attempt to utilise legal technicalities improperly to obstruct the investigation’s progress.

Delhi Court dismisses Manish Sisodia’s bail application

United News of India (UNI) — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 12:43:40 +0000

New Delhi, Apr 28: A Delhi Special Court on Friday dismissed the bail application of AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Excise policy case.

Special Judge MK Nagpal after hearing both the prosecution and the defence rejected the bail prayer.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) counsel opposed the bail application by alleging that there is a conspiracy in the framing of the Delhi Excise Policy to provide illegal benefits to certain people. It is alleged that the framing of a new liquor policy for Delhi has resulted in extraordinary profits for wholesalers.

Counsel for Sisodia submitted in his bail application that not a single penny has been traced from Sisodia or his family account. He submitted that Sisodia has always cooperated with the investigating agency and no incriminating material has been unearthed against him during the searches.

He argued that no offence under section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act has been made out against Sisodia and told the court that no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping him behind bar. So, Sisodia should be granted bail.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Sisodia on February 26 after questioning him on various aspects of the Excise Policy for 2021-22. After that, the ED got his custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. According to the investigating agency the Excise Policy suffered from irregularities in its formulation and implementation.

CBI summons Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Sakshi Vats — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:59:08 +0000

Arvind Kejriwal, the incumbent and official Chief Minister of Delhi, has been called in for questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding the Delhi Liquor Excise Policy Scam.

The chief minister was summoned by the probe agency on April 16.

In the meantime, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) gave an official statement which informed of the party will be holding a press conference today at 6:00 pm.

Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh stated on twitter “There will definitely be an end to tyranny. Arvind Kejriwal, I will hold a press conference at 6 pm in the matter of summoning by CBI.”

As the Election Commission of India recognized CM Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party, Kejriwal declared that all AAP officials should be ready to serve jail time. Kejriwal’s response to the summons from the CBI is awaited, the Delhi chief minister remarked while at an event on Friday: “There are several anti-national forces in the county that do not want the country to progress. All these people sent Manish Sisodia to jail. Those who sent Sisodia to jail are the enemies of the country.”

After hours of investigation into the alleged scam involving the Delhi excise policy, which was discontinued after Delhi L-G VK Saxena recommended a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities, Manish Sisodia was detained by the CBI on February 26.

ED questions Member of Legislative Council K. Kavita in Delhi Excise Policy Case

United News of India (UNI) — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 17:20:14 +0000

New Delhi, Mar 11: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha over eight hours on Saturday in connection with money laundering investigation in an alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of (now-scrapped) the Delhi excise policy, sources said.

Kavitha appeared before the agency after being summoned by the ED. This development comes after arresting a Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai.

On Thursday, ED arrested former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia after several hours of questioning inside Delhi’s Tihar Jail in an ongoing probe of a case related to alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested Sisodia on February 26 after allegedly not cooperating during questioning at CBI headquarters here related to alleged Delhi excise policy scam. He was lodged in Tihar Jail.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that BJP has a motive to eliminate the opposition parties. “The alleged accused in the case got bail but Manish Sisodia didn’t get bail. ED has also arrested him after filing a case. BJP is eliminating the opposition parties by playing agency-agency,” AAP MP Raghav Chadha alleged in a press briefing.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Business Upturn staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

ED arrests son of YSR Congress Party MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy in Delhi excise policy case

Aryan Jakhar — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 04:34:34 +0000

Raghav Magunta, the son of YSR Congress Party MP Srinivasulu Reddy from Ongole, was detained today by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with its money laundering probe into suspected irregularities in the Delhi excise policy case. The ED has made three arrests this week and nine total in the Delhi excise policy case. On Friday evening, he was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), according to authorities.

Raghav Magunta is likely to appear in a local court, where the Enforcement Directorate will demand his arrest.

The ED has previously claimed that the father-and-son combination were members of the “South Group,” a cartel of booze dealers, distributors, and manufacturers formed as part of the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy.

Last year, it searched properties associated with the Member of Parliament.

In this matter, the ED has so far filed two charge sheets or prosecution complaints.