National Desk, 1st April: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made alarming allegations, claiming that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal implicated fellow Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and state ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj during questioning related to the excise policy case. According to the ED, Kejriwal stated that Vijay Nair, the former communication-in-charge of AAP and an accused in the liquor policy case, reported to Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj rather than directly to him.
The excise policy case, under joint investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED, revolves around allegations of corruption during the formulation of Delhi’s liquor policy under the Kejriwal-led government. The ED’s chargesheet accuses Nair of acting as a middleman for the ‘South Group,’ allegedly providing Rs 100 crore in kickbacks to the Kejriwal government to gain favorable treatment in the liquor retail business in Delhi.
The arrest of Vijay Nair and subsequent allegations of his influence within the AAP leadership have heightened scrutiny on Kejriwal and his administration. The ED claims that Kejriwal referred to Nair as “his boy” during a purported video call with Sameer Mahendru, another accused in the case.
Amidst these developments, Kejriwal’s arrest by the ED and subsequent judicial custody have raised further concerns. The probe agency has accused him of being uncooperative during questioning, alleging that he evaded key inquiries and refused to provide passwords for digital devices.
The allegations against Kejriwal and the involvement of senior AAP leaders have cast a shadow over the party’s governance and raised questions about the transparency and integrity of the administration.