Arvind Kejriwal 'kingpin' of Delhi liquor policy scam: ED in PMLA court

The Enforcement Directorate sought 10-day custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been arrested in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing on behalf of the ED, named Kejriwal the kingpin and the chief conspirator of the liquor policy scam.

The ED has claimed that Kejriwal was directly involved in the scam and gave favours to the 'south group' led by Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha, who was arrested last week.

According to the agency, the total proceeds of the alleged scam exceeded Rs 600 crore, and the Rs 45 crore from the kickback was used to fund AAP's Goa and Punjab elections in 2022.

The ED told Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court that Kejriwal received several crores of rupees as kickbacks from the 'South group' for formulating and implementing Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

He demanded Rs 100 crore from some accused from 'South group' for contesting the Punjab elections, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, who is appearing for the agency, told the court.

The law officer said the money trail showed that Rs 45 crore "kickback" used in Goa elections came from four hawala routes.

He said the statements of the accused and witnesses have been corroborated by Call Detail Records (CDR).

The AAP chief was produced before in the court around 2 pm amid tight security on and around the court premises.

"We have given an application for 10 days' remand," ASG Raju told the court.

He said the AAP is not an individual but a company, and every person responsible for the conduct of the company will be held responsible.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi is representing Kejriwal.

Kejriwal was produced in the trial court shortly after he withdrew from the Supreme Court his plea against arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.

Kejriwal's counsel said he would contest the remand proceedings before the trial court and then come back to the apex court with another petition.