Excise policy case: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal scheduled to appear before ED today
Kejriwal is expected to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday in connection with a case related to the alleged excise policy scam. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has remained silent on whether the chief minister will comply with the ED's summons.
In April, Kejriwal was questioned by the CBI regarding the alleged liquor scam. At that time, he denounced the entire case as «fabricated» and viewed it as an attempt to undermine the AAP's credibility.
Earlier this year, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the same case. Subsequently, the ED also arrested Sisodia on money laundering charges arising from the CBI's initial FIR. The Supreme Court recently rejected his bail plea.
The CBI and the ED are conducting investigations into the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which has since been scrapped. The policy was accused of favoring specific liquor dealers, an allegation vehemently denied by the AAP.
The investigation was initiated following a report from the chief secretary of the Delhi government, which prompted Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena to recommend a CBI probe in July the previous year. The report highlighted various alleged irregularities, including a waiver of Rs 144 crore to retail licensees in the name of COVID-19-impacted sales and a refund of Rs 30 crore to a successful bidder for an airport zone who failed to obtain a no objection certificate for opening liquor stores there. Additionally, there were allegations of a quid pro quo scenario where the commission of wholesale licensees was increased from five percent to twelve percent.
'Quite natural' for Kejriwal to get
Read more on economictimes.indiatimes.com
