Supreme Court to Hear Arvind Kejriwal’s Plea in Delhi Excise Policy Case Against ED Arrest

Supreme Court to Hear Arvind Kejriwal’s Plea in Delhi Excise Policy Case Against ED Arrest

Monday is scheduled for the Supreme Court to consider a plea from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal contesting his remand after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) about the Delhi excise policy issue. Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, a bench of justices, will hear the case. In response to a Delhi high court ruling that had rejected his case on April 9 and denied his claim of political retaliation in light of the impending Lok Sabha election, Arvind Kejriwal had petitioned the top court.

The Delhi High Court stated that the detention was an “inevitable consequence of his non-cooperation” with the ED and that the investigation agency had enough evidence to support the decision. Arvind Kejriwal was notably called nine times by the inquiry agency in this issue, but he declined to appear in person. The 103-page ruling by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma’s single-judge bench also noted that the chief minister’s arrest was not predetermined by the central government.

The AAP leader was sent into judicial detention till April 15 for the final hearing after being arrested on March 21 in relation to the money laundering investigation related to the purported anomalies in the now-canceled Delhi excise policy. He was the first CM in office at the time of the arrest. Right now, the CM is being held at Tihar Prison. AAP leader Manish Sisodia has been incarcerated since February of last year in connection with the excise policy issue, in addition to Arvind Kejriwal. In connection with the crime, Sanjay Singh was also detained; however, he was just released on bond.

What is the Delhi excise policy case?

The case focuses on the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021–2022, claiming corruption and money laundering occurred throughout the implementation process. By substituting the sales-volume-based system with a license fee for dealers and promising swankier storefronts devoid of the famed metal grilles, the Delhi government aimed to revitalize the city’s failing liquor market and ultimately improve the shopping experience for its patrons. It was withdrawn nevertheless, not long after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena requested an investigation into the policy from the CBI, citing anomalies.

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The CBI and ED claim that in exchange for granting them licenses under the excise policy, a group of lawmakers and liquor industry executives offered ₹100 crore in payments to AAP leaders. The central authorities claimed in their chargesheet that specific members of the “South Group” were involved in the purported irregularities. In the chargesheet, which detailed how all the accused in the excise policy case were allegedly in contact with the Delhi CM to create the excise policy that resulted in disproportionate benefits to them in exchange for which they paid kickbacks to the party, Arvind Kejriwal’s name was also listed.