Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal “directly used” part of the alleged Rs 100 crore generated from the “kickbacks” of the Delhi excise policy “scam” by staying in a luxury hotel in Goa, the ED has claimed in its charge sheet filed against the AAP supremo.
The federal probe agency also said the GoM (Group of Ministers) constituted by his government in this context was a “sham”.
A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Tuesday took cognisance of the prosecution complaint, filed on May 17, and issued a production warrant for the jailed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader for July 12.
The 55-year-old politician and the AAP have been named as accused in this seventh supplementary charge sheet filed in the case.
Regarding Kejriwal’s role, the 209-page charge sheet said, “Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi is the kingpin and key conspirator of the Delhi excise scam in collusion with ministers of Delhi govt, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and other persons.”
The AAP, which rules Delhi and Punjab, responded to the ED charge sheet on Tuesday saying the BJP-led government at the Centre was hatching a “big conspiracy” against the party and that the political outfit was being finished off.
“Arvind Kejriwal has directly used part of these proceeds of crime personally by making Chanpreet Singh (another accused in the case) make payment for Sh Arvind Kejriwal’s stay and event at the Grand Hyatt, Goa,” the agency claimed.
It said that Kejriwal also “mingled” these proceeds of crime with the funds of the Delhi government.
It has been alleged that the ‘South Group’ of politicians and liquor businessmen gave Rs 100 crore worth of kickbacks to gain a favourable position in the Delhi excise policy for 2021-22 and out of these funds, Rs 45 crore was sent for the AAP campaign in Goa during the 2022 assembly polls.
“The AAP kept the expenses made out of the proceeds of crime of Rs 45 crore out of the books and did not disclose the same to the Election Commission of India,” it said.
In this manner, it alleged, Kejriwal “had the control over the proceeds of crime of Rs 100 crore at each stage, and thus the activity of generation, acquisition and possession, transfer use and concealment and projection of the same as untainted carried out on this proceeds of crime by Sh Arvind Kejriwal”.
The agency said Kejriwal was “liable” to be punished for his role in the commission of the offence of money laundering under section 4 of the PMLA and also “vicariously” as he is responsible for the conduct of the business/affairs of the AAP, deemed a company under section 70 of the PMLA.
With inputs from News18
