Delhi LG approves ED prosecution against Kejriwal in liquor scandal case

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) prosecution of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the suspected money laundering case related to the liquor policy scandal.

The approval comes ahead of the Delhi elections, which will be Kejriwal's biggest test since the Lok Sabha elections.

However, the AAP has called the charges "false and misleading" and has requested that the ED provide a copy of the sanction granted by the Lieutenant Governor.

Kejriwal had already been charged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), but the trial had not yet begun.

According to sources, the ED wrote to the Chief Secretary requesting authorization after the Supreme Court ruled that the Lt Governor's consent was required to prosecute government employees in money laundering cases.

With Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva praising the approval to bring charges against Kejriwal, the BJP has intensified its accusations against the AAP.

"We have been saying that Arvind Kejriwal took commission in the liquor scam. As the investigation progresses, he will be trapped. He has ruined Delhi and looted crores of rupees. We welcome the investigation," said Sachdeva.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia denied the reports, calling them an attempt to divert attention from Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks about Dr B R Ambedkar.

"If LG Vinai Saxena has given permission to prosecute Arvind Kejriwal, then why is the ED not showing the copy of that permission? It is clear that this news is false and misleading. Stop making empty promises to divert attention from the insult to Baba Saheb and show where the sanction for prosecution is," said Sisodia.

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh added that the ED should make public any letter it has received from the Lt Governor urging it to bring charges against Kejriwal.

One of the main accusations made by the opposition BJP against the AAP government is the liquor policy scam.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the ED, which is investigating allegations of money laundering connected to the purported scheme.

In September, the then-Chief Minister and leader of the AAP was released from jail.

Following his release, he resigned as CM and promised to only take office again after his party was re-elected in the 2025 state elections.

In its latest chargesheet against him and the party, the ED identified Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as the masterminds behind the alleged scam.

Sisodia, who was also jailed in connection with the liquor policy case, was granted bail in August after 18 months in custody, with the court ruling that he was entitled to a "speedy trial."

The ED accused Kejriwal and Sisodia of altering the Excise Policy 2021-22 to benefit a "South lobby" in exchange for a ₹100 crore bribe.

According to ED sources, ₹45 crore of this amount was allegedly used by the AAP for campaigning in the Goa elections.

A letter was sent to the ED on Dec 20 after Kejriwal filed an appeal with the Delhi High Court to have the chargesheet revoked.