Arvind Kejriwal ‘key player’, ‘key conspirator’ in excise fraud: ED to Delhi HC

The ED on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was the “main actor” and “main conspirator” of the “excise fraud”.

The federal agency opposed the AAP convener’s petition challenging his arrest in the related money laundering case.

In its response to the petition, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said there were “reasons to believe on the basis of material in its possession” that Kejriwal was “guilty of the offense of money laundering”.

“Sh Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of the NCT of Delhi, is the kingpin and main conspirator of the Delhi Excise Scam, in connivance with the Ministers of the Delhi Government, AAP leaders and other persons. Sh Arvind Kejriwal was directly involved in the formulation of the excise policy 2021-2022.

“This policy was prepared keeping in mind the favors to be extended to the South Group and was prepared in consultation with Sh Vijay Nair, Sh Manish Sisodia and member representatives of the South Group,” the response said.

Kejriwal is involved in the use of proceeds of crime thus generated in the Goa election campaign of the AAP, of which he is the chairman and ultimate decision-maker, it added.

The petition will be heard by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Wednesday.

On March 27, the Supreme Court had refused to grant interim relief to Kejriwal, saying the case raised important issues that cannot be resolved “summarily” without seeking the agency’s stand and had asked the ED for its response to file a challenge to his arrest and subsequent remand to the custody of the ED.

In the reply, the ED further said that after filing the present petition, the petitioner was further remanded in custody on a well-reasoned and detailed remand order till April 1, after which he was subsequently remanded to judicial custody by the court. not opposed by his counsel.

“In view of the above submission of the petitioner before the Ld. Special Court, PMLA, that he has no objection to further extension of the custody/remand, the petitioner has waived his right to question his custody, as is the case today, and the petitioner cannot do that may now claim that his detention as today is illegal,” the reply added.

Kejriwal, who was arrested on March 21, has sought his release on the grounds that the arrest was illegal.

The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-2022, which was later scrapped.

First print: April 2, 2024 | 11:05 PM IST