Delhi Court Takes Note Of ED Chargesheet Making Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Accused In Excise Policy Case

The Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday took cognisance the supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the excise policy case.

The court also issued a production warrant against Kejriwal and issued summons to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). All accused have been ordered to appear in court on July 12.

Special Judge (PC Act) Kaveri Bawja has taken notice of the seventh supplementary prosecution complaint filed by the federal agency.

Additionally, the court acknowledged a supplementary chargesheet filed by the federal agency against Vinod Chauhan, who was arrested in May. A production warrant has been issued for his appearance in court for the same day on July 12.

Chauhan is accused of transferring cash funds, allegedly sourced through kickbacks from the ‘South Group’, for AAP’s election campaign during the Goa Assembly polls of 2022. He became the 18th person arrested by the central investigative agency in connection with the case.

On May 17, the ED had submitted the seventh supplementary chargesheet in the money laundering case related to the now-defunct Delhi excise policy for 2021-22, naming Kejriwal and AAP as accused for the first time in this case.

Kejriwal, currently in judicial custody at Tihar Jail, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 26 in connection with the money laundering case filed by the ED.

Earlier, Kejriwal had been arrested by the ED on March 21 and was granted bail by the trial court in the money laundering case on June 20. However, the high court stayed the trial court’s order.

The excise policy, scrapped in 2022 following an order by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, triggered a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities and corruption in its formulation and execution. According to both the CBI and ED, irregularities occurred during modifications to the excise policy and through undue favours granted to licence holders.

(With inputs from PTI)