There has been a significant development concerning the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as it reportedly received approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs of India (MHA) to proceed with prosecuting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal concerning a possible liquor scam. It was learned from a senior ED official that Kejriwal is being investigated as the principal conspirator regarding the alleged money laundering activities produced under the controversial Delhi liquor policy.
Main charges against Arvind Kejriwal
- Main conspirator: This will name Arvind Kejriwal, who formulated such a policy to increase the market value of properties situated near the liquor shops.
- Money Laundering: Allegations have been made that accused persons produced business entities as part of the structure meant for money laundering, from where lakhs and crores of rupees were deposited.
- The initiation of the case is considered as a political storm where the opposition has demanded resignation of Arvind Kejriwal.
The liquor scandal
The policy has been put in place to, privatize liquor trade in Delhi in 2011 but very soon this too was found to be flawed and accused of corruption.
The complaints were that specific licensees were being installed by the Delhi government in exchange for kickbacks. The policy was revoked once the reports came in and now ED and CBI have started their actions. Many arrests have been made, and it looks as if the door is slamming shut on the bigwigs of AAP, including the national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal.
Political reaction
The allegations received a charged response from the political circles. In response to the allegations, the BJP called it evidence exhibiting “massive corruption” in the AAP-led government, to which AAP claimed politics behind the case.
What’s Next?
With a sanction from the Home Ministry, the Enforcement Directorate can now increase its investigation, even possibly by summoning Kejriwal for an interrogation; a conviction could be a severe setback to the AAP’s political credibility.