The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has levelled serious allegations against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the ongoing excise policy case. According to the CBI’s supplementary charge sheet, Kejriwal is accused of being involved in a criminal conspiracy related to the privatization of Delhi’s Excise Policy, as well as misappropriating funds during the Goa Assembly elections in 2022.
Allegations Against Kejriwal and AAP
The CBI has claimed that Kejriwal, in his capacity as the national convenor and chief of AAP, had orchestrated a plan to privatize the Excise Policy. The probe agency alleges that this plan was devised in March 2021, during the formulation of the policy by a Group of Ministers (GoM) led by co-accused Manish Sisodia.
The charge sheet further accuses Kejriwal’s close associate, Vijay Nair, who was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court, of soliciting illegal gratifications from stakeholders in Delhi’s excise business. According to the CBI, Nair could not have approached these stakeholders without Kejriwal’s authorization and direction.
Misleading Election Expenditures in Goa
The CBI has also alleged that AAP’s disclosure of election expenditures for the Goa Assembly elections was misleading. The party’s financial statements reportedly only included bank transactions while omitting substantial cash payments made to vendors, assembly managers, booth in-charges, and volunteers.
The agency’s investigation suggests that illicit funds generated from the excise policy conspiracy were utilized to cover AAP’s election expenses in Goa. The charge sheet identifies Durgesh Pathak, the AAP leader in charge of the Goa elections, as the manager of election-related expenditures. It also implicates Chanpreet Singh Rayat in collecting illicit money through hawala channels and making cash payments under Pathak’s direction.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Kejriwal’s pleas today, which include a request for bail and a challenge to his arrest in connection with the excise policy case. As the investigation continues, these developments could have significant implications for both Kejriwal and the AAP, potentially impacting their political and legal standing.
These allegations come as a major setback for Kejriwal and the AAP, casting a spotlight on the ongoing probe into the excise policy and election financing practices. The case continues to evolve, and further updates are expected as the legal proceedings advance.
