The Union Home Ministry has permitted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal and former minister Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case related to the Delhi liquor policy fraud.
The Ministry’s decision follows Delhi Lt. Governor VK Saxena’s approval to initiate prosecution against the former Chief Minister of Delhi in the matter.
In a ruling from last November, the Supreme Court stated that the ED must obtain prior approval before prosecuting public officials.
The next month, the investigative agency contacted VK Saxena, stating that a sanction should be granted as Kejriwal was the “mastermind and principal conspirator” of the fraud.
The AAP leader went to the Delhi High Court, claiming that the chargesheet filed by the investigation agency against him and others in the case was unlawful as it was submitted without obtaining prior approval from the authorities.
The allegations against Kejriwal focus on claims of misconduct in the creation of the obsolete Delhi excise policy for the year 2021-22. It is claimed that the ex-Chief Minister, along with other AAP officials, including Sisodia, deliberately established gaps in the policy to gain kickbacks from liquor lobbyists.
He was initially detained by the ED on March 21, 2024, related to the money laundering case. Subsequently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) detained Kejriwal on June 26, 2024, regarding a corruption case.
In September 2024, the Supreme Court approved bail for the AAP leader.
Only a few days after obtaining bail, Kejriwal stepped down as the Chief Minister of Delhi, allowing senior AAP leader Atishi to take over the position.
In August 2024, Sisodia exited jail, 17 months following his arrest by the ED and CBI related to the liquor policy case.
The AAP has fielded senior party leader from the Jangpura constituency for the Delhi Assembly elections on February 5.
