Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal scored a crucial legal victory as Rouse Avenue Court acquitted him of charges for disregarding ED summons in the explosive Delhi Excise Policy scandal. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal’s order on Thursday dismissed the ED’s complaint outright.
At the heart of the matter was Kejriwal’s refusal to heed five summons under PMLA Section 50, issued amid ED’s money laundering probe into alleged kickbacks from the ‘South Group’ cartel. This group purportedly influenced the 2021-22 policy to corner liquor licenses and distribution networks.
Roots of the probe lie in a CBI case registered on August 17, 2022, following LG VK Saxena’s July complaint exposing policy flaws. ED jumped in days later, intensifying heat on AAP’s top brass, leading to Kejriwal’s high-profile arrest and subsequent Supreme Court bail.
The court extended mercy to AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan as well, discharging him in a Waqf Board-linked laundering case for similar non-compliance.
This development arrives at a pivotal time for AAP, reinforcing claims of vendetta politics by central agencies. Analysts note it could weaken ED’s strategy in high-stakes political cases, prompting closer judicial oversight on summons enforcement.
While celebrations ensue in AAP circles, the parent excise policy investigation rages on, with trials pending. Kejriwal’s acquittal signals judicial pushback, potentially reshaping how opposition figures engage with probe agencies moving forward.