Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for additional questioning concerning the Delhi Excise Policy matter. According to reports, the ED has instructed Kejriwal to appear before them on December 21.
This summons aligns with Kejriwal’s scheduled participation in a 10-day Vipassana meditation course, set to commence on December 19, a day after the conclusion of the winter session of the Delhi Assembly. Vipassana, an ancient Indian meditation technique involving a period of complete communication abstention, is aimed at revitalizing mental well-being. A regular practitioner, Kejriwal adheres to this annual routine, having attended courses in various locations such as Bengaluru and Jaipur.
The federal agency had previously called Kejriwal for questioning on November 2 regarding alleged irregularities in the now-canceled excise scheme. On April 16 of this year, the Chief Minister faced nearly nine hours of questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the same matter.
Earlier, two prominent AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, faced legal challenges over their alleged roles in the money laundering case of the Delhi liquor scam. Sanjay Singh, a Rajya Sabha representative for the party, was arrested on October 4 following an ED raid related to the Delhi excise policy money laundering case.
Meanwhile, Manish Sisodia, initially arrested by the CBI on February 26 for his purported involvement in the scam, now faces ED charges and is currently in judicial custody at Tihar Jail. In a comprehensive supplementary charge sheet spanning nearly 270 pages with annexures totaling 2,000 pages, the ED identifies Sisodia as a “key conspirator” in the case.
The Delhi Liquor Policy, implemented on November 17, 2021, was later withdrawn by the end of September 2022 amid corruption accusations. Investigating agencies assert that the policy favored ineligible individuals for liquor licenses in exchange for financial gains, fostering cartelization. While the AAP-led Delhi government maintains the policy aimed to boost revenue, allegations of corruption persist.
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