NEW DELHI: Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has recently given sanction to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy scam case, officials from the secretariat informed.
According to officials, the ED had, on December 5, sought permission to prosecute Kejriwal, writing to Delhi Chief Secretary Dharmendra in his capacity as Chief Vigilance Officer in this regard.
On its part, the AAP claimed that there was no such sanction, accusing the ED of callousness in investigating the case in relation to which several senior leaders from the party were jailed, including Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia.
“It is to inform that this office has filed the Prosecution Complaint (SPC-7) against Sh. Arvind Kejriwal (Accused No. 37) on, 17.05.2024 in the case M/s Indo-Spirits and Others for irregularities in framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD of Delhi for the year 2021-22” the request for sanction stated.
The ED added that a Special Court had also taken cognizance of the Prosecution Complaint filed by it dated 09.07.2024 and that the Supreme Court had, in the case of ED vs. Bibhu Prasad Acharya & others clarified, that the Provision of Cr. PC applied to Section 65 of the PMLA and Section 71(1) “cannot override the provision of Cr.PC which applies to the PMLA” vide its judgment dated 06.11.2024.
“In view of the above fact and circumstances, Sanction may be required for prosecution to Sh. Arvind Kejriwal, former CM, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, for offence of Money Laundering under Section 4 of PMLA…” the sanction added.
According to the secretariat officials, Saxena had later granted approval to prosecute Kejriwal in relation to the ED’s case.
Speaking about the development, AAP said: “The fact that they are talking about a prosecution sanction almost a year after the filing of the complaint shows the callousness with which the Enforcement Directorate is handling this case.”
Terming it an attempt to “politically malign the AAP government”, the party accused the agency of having “breached every procedural norm” and harassment in the name of investigation.
“The so-called liquor scam investigation has dragged on for two years, harassing 500 people, filing 50,000 pages of documents, and conducting over 250 raids, not a single penny has been recovered,” the AAP alleged.
“And multiple holes in the case have been highlighted by various court orders in the past years. BJP’s real goal is to crush the AAP and Arvind Kejriwal by any means,” it added.
Agencies
Delhi LG gives nod to ED to prosecute Kejriwal in excise policy scam case, officials claim; AAP calls it ‘harassment’
