If ED has got L-G’s sanction to prosecute Kejriwal, it must share copy publicly, says AAP

Delhi’s ruling party says report about ED getting approval to prosecute former CM is ‘motivated’; he must face consequences of liquor ‘scam’, says BJP; AAP chief must own up to ‘misdeeds’: Cong.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday termed “false” the reports about Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena giving sanction to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute party national convener Arvind Kejriwal. It also dared the probe agency to share a copy of the prosecution sanction.

However, the BJP and the Congress took potshots at Delhi’s ruling party over the issue, saying that the law is finally catching up with the former Chief Minister. The developments come ahead of the Assembly election due in February next year.

The case pertains to allegations of money laundering linked to the now-withdrawn excise policy for 2021-22. The ED had arrested Mr. Kejriwal in March this year in connection with the case. On September 13, he was granted bail by the Supreme Court.

The former CM had recently moved the Delhi High Court seeking to set aside a trial court’s order taking cognisance of a chargesheet filed against him by the ED. He argued that the cognisance was taken without sanction for his prosecution, which was required as he was a public servant when the alleged offence was committed.

The case has been listed for hearing on January 30 next year.

A source on Saturday said the Central probe agency had sought the L-G’s sanction to prosecute Mr. Kejriwal on December 3 and received approval on December 7.

When reached for comment, the L-G office confirmed that the prosecution sanction had been given.

Senior party leaders, including CM Atishi, termed reports about Mr. Saxena granting prosecution sanction to the ED “baseless” and “politically motivated”. “Why does the ED not share a copy of the prosecution sanction publicly? This news is being spread solely to mislead people and divert attention from real issues,” the CM said in a post on X.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Vijender Gupta said, “Kejriwal will have to face the consequences of the massive corruption carried out through the excise policy.”

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said, “When Arvind Kejriwal and his associates involved in the liquor scam face evidence of their corrupt deeds, they tend to blame everyone except themselves.”

Published - December 22, 2024 12:53 am IST