Arvind Kejriwal Directly Involved in Excise ‘Scam’: CBI Chargesheet Alleges

CBI Chargesheet Filed Against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others in the Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi, in connection with the excise policy case.

Extension of Judicial Custody

Kejriwal’s judicial custody in the excise policy case ended on July 25, following an extension of his detention by the Rouse Avenue Court.

Arrest Under Prevention of Corruption Act

The CBI arrested Kejriwal under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) in relation to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. The agency has charged Kejriwal as ‘one of the primary conspirators’ in the case, alleging that Vijay Nair, the ex-media in-charge of AAP and a close associate of Kejriwal, was in contact with several liquor producers and traders.

Allegations of Undue Gratification and Hawala Transfers

In the Delhi court, the CBI claimed that Nair had allegedly demanded undue gratification for incorporating provisions beneficial to AAP in the excise policy since March 2021. Additionally, the agency alleged that ₹44.45 crore was transferred through ‘hawala channels’ to Goa from June 2021 to January 2022, funds that were used in AAP’s assembly poll campaign. This was part of the ₹100 crore in bribes that the CBI stated AAP received in its previous chargesheet.

ED Raids and Arrest

On March 21, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Kejriwal in connection with the scrapped Delhi liquor policy scam case after conducting raids at his residence. An 11-member ED team, equipped with a search warrant, raided Kejriwal’s home as part of the Delhi excise policy money laundering investigation.

Interim Bail Granted by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal on July 12 in the ED’s money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi Liquor Policy Case. The CBI arrested Kejriwal on June 26 from Tihar Jail while he was in judicial custody under the money laundering case registered by the ED.

Additional Charges Pressed by CBI on Arvind Kejriwal

The CBI has also pressed charges against several individuals, including AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak, Sarath Reddy, non-executive director of Aurobindo Pharma, Amit Arora, director of Buddy Retail, entrepreneur Ashish Mathur, and hawala operator Vinod Chauhan. Notably, these individuals have been charged without being apprehended.

Allegations of Direct Involvement by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

The CBI has alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal played a direct role in facilitating irregularities in the excise policy case. According to the agency, Kejriwal, as the apex authority, personally handed over the “draft GOM” (Group of Ministers) policy report to DANICS officer C Arvind at his residence.

IAS Officer’s Judicial Statement

The IAS officer, who also served as secretary to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, has provided a judicial statement confirming that he received the report in March 2021 after being summoned to Kejriwal’s residence by Sisodia.

Manipulation of Excise Policy

The draft GoM report, which outlined the new excise policy, is alleged to have been manipulated to benefit the liquor cartel. The DANICS officer also testified that AAP’s communication in-charge brought a copy of the excise policy to be inputted into a computer while Kejriwal was present.

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