The ED’s money laundering probe stems from a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 17, 2022 in connection with alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22.
The CBI case was registered on a complaint made by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on July 20, 2022.
It has been alleged that a criminal conspiracy was hatched by AAP leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other unidentified and unnamed private persons/entities during the stage of the policy’s formulation.
The conspiracy, it has been alleged, stemmed from some of the loopholes “intentionally” left or created in the policy. These were allegedly meant to favour some licensees and conspirators post the tender process.
Several AAP leaders including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh were arrested by the ED in connection with the case.
Singh got bail from the Supreme Court on April 2.
Kejriwal’s arrest marked the first time a sitting Chief Minister in India was put behind bars while still in office.
The ED’s move in this regard has led to several rounds of litigation before the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, in addition to the remand hearings before the trial court at the Rouse Avenue Court complex in Delhi.
Recently, the Delhi High Court rejected Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the central agency and the trial court order remanding him to ED custody.
The High Court also upheld the subsequent remand orders passed by the Court including the order through which the AAP national convenor was sent to judicial custody.
Source: Barandbench
