The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has vehemently contested the objections raised by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Supreme Court, asserting that he failed to cooperate with the agency despite multiple summonses. The ED maintains that the subsequent arrest was justified based on ample evidence of Kejriwal’s involvement in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), however, has fiercely condemned the ED’s actions, accusing it of being a political tool of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). AAP asserts that the ED lacks any substantial evidence against Kejriwal and is solely pursuing the arrest to hinder his participation in the upcoming Lok Sabha election campaign.
The ED, represented by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, previously argued in the High Court that the procedure of arrest was correctly followed and that Kejriwal had been furnished with the grounds of his arrest in writing. The agency has characterized Kejriwal as the kingpin and key conspirator of the Delhi excise scam, alleging his involvement in the formulation of the excise policy and demanding kickbacks from liquor businessmen in exchange for favors granted in the policy.
The ED further claims that Kejriwal was involved in the use of proceeds of crime generated in the Goa election campaign of the AAP, of which he was the national convener and ultimate decision-maker. The agency alleged that Vijay Nair, on behalf of Kejriwal and the AAP, received kickbacks to the tune of ₹100 crore from the so-called South Group, represented by Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Pillai, and Buchi Babu.
According to the ED, the South Group members gained control of wholesaler business M/s Indo Spirits and even retail zones, acquired the business of Pernod Ricard, and obtained the L1 license despite multiple complaints and violations of the Excise Policy 2021-22. The investigation revealed that the proceeds of crime amounted to approximately ₹45 crore, which was part of the bribe received from the South Group and utilized in the AAP’s election campaign in Goa in 2021-22.
Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest and remand is expected to be heard by an apex court Bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna in the week commencing from April 29. The ED has argued that the arrest and subsequent remand of Kejriwal were natural outcomes of painstaking collection of evidence.
