Home Ministry gives ED nod to prosecute Kejriwal
What's the story
The Union Home Ministry has allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. The decision pertains to alleged irregularities in the now-defunct Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. This move comes after a Supreme Court ruling on November 6 that mandated the ED to seek prior sanction for prosecution in money laundering cases, just like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Counter plea
The framing of charges was pending
Although the ED had claimed that Kejriwal was the mastermind in the alleged irregularities in the liquor case, the framing of charges was still pending in a Delhi court due to a lack of clearance. That barrier has now been removed. Kejriwal had petitioned the Delhi High Court to challenge the trial court's decision to take note of the chargesheet against him, weeks after the top court's decision. He had claimed that the ED lacked the authority to prosecute him.
Legal proceedings
Lieutenant Governor's approval and CBI's parallel case
Notably, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena had already approved the prosecution last month. In August 2024, the CBI received sanction for its parallel corruption case against Kejriwal in connection with the same excise policy. The ED arrested Kejriwal on March 21 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He was named in a charge sheet on May 17, accused of using ₹45 crore from an alleged ₹100 crore bribe for the AAP's Goa election campaign.
Arrest details
Kejriwal's arrest and charges under PMLA
The ED claims that Kejriwal was responsible for generating and using these funds as AAP's national convenor and executive member. The ED has described Kejriwal as the "kingpin" in the excise policy irregularities. It claims he, along with his then deputy Sisodia and former AAP media in charge Vijay Nair, wanted more money than ₹100 crore for elections. Vinod Chauhan, a "close associate" of Kejriwal, allegedly facilitated a ₹25.5 crore bribe transfer from Delhi to Goa for AAP.