The Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday took a significant step in the ongoing investigation into the alleged irregularities in the Delhi liquor excise policy. The court took cognizance of the fourth supplementary chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which named Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal as an accused.
This development marks a crucial juncture in the case, as the court issued summons to all six accused named in the chargesheet. These include Kejriwal, along with Durgesh Pathak, Amit Arora, Vinod Chauhan, Ashish Mathur, and P. Sarath Reddy. The court, presided over by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, deemed there was sufficient evidence to proceed against Kejriwal and the other accused, underscoring the gravity of the allegations.
The court has now scheduled the next hearing in the case on September 11. As part of the proceedings, a production warrant has been issued for Kejriwal, while Pathak has been summoned for the same date.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had previously filed a supplementary chargesheet against Kejriwal, Pathak, Vinod Chauhan, Ashish Mathur, and Sarath Reddy. Notably, last month, the CBI informed the court that it had obtained the necessary sanctions to prosecute Kejriwal and Pathak in this case. This followed the earlier acquisition of sanctions to investigate them in the matter.
Meanwhile, in a separate development related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, the Supreme Court granted bail to former AAP communication in-charge Vijay Nair. Nair, who had been incarcerated for nearly 23 months in a money laundering case stemming from the scam, was released on Monday. The Supreme Court, emphasizing the sacrosanct nature of liberty, observed that it needs to be respected even in cases involving stringent laws.
This ongoing investigation into the Delhi liquor excise policy continues to generate significant political and legal interest, as it involves high-profile figures and allegations of serious irregularities. The upcoming hearing on September 11 is likely to be crucial, as the court moves forward with the case against Kejriwal and the other accused.
