ED accuses Kejriwal of hindering excise probe

The ED has alleged that evidence collected by it showed hawala transfers of approximately Rs 45 crore, which were used in the AAP's Goa election campaign.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The assertions made in the seventh supplementary charge-sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi excise policy scam, which was taken on record by a special court in Delhi earlier last week, is likely to come as a huge problem for Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who has been named as the 37th accused in the overall list of 38 accused.

The ED in its 208-page submission on 17 May, while describing Kejriwal as a key conspirator in the scam, has alleged that he was involved in formulating policies to favour certain individuals in exchange for kickbacks, and then used these illicit funds for electoral gains in Goa while evading and obstructing the subsequent investigation.

Kejriwal, his lawyers and the AAP have all termed these investigations and “findings” by Central agencies like ED as baseless and an exercise being done by these agencies on the behest of the BJP led Central government for political reasons. As per Indian jurisprudence, all accused are presumed innocent until found guilty by the court.

The ED has extensively cited Kejriwal’s alleged links with Vijay Nair (accused number 6), who is alleged to be a close associate of the Delhi CM and who acted as a broker for getting bribes from various stakeholders in the Delhi liquor business in exchange for favourable outcomes in the Excise Policy of 2021-22.

The ED has stated that Nair lived in a government bungalow close to Kejriwal’s and operated from Kejriwal’s camp office. Kejriwal, as per the ED, has denied allegations of Nair directly reporting to him, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. The ED has claimed that Kejriwal evaded questions about his involvement and did not reveal passwords to his digital devices, inhibiting evidence collection and giving evasive replies during custodial interrogation.