The said detailed chargesheet, indicating Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as being involved in the scandal of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, has created a lot of controversy. In this article, we will delve into the details of the chargesheet, some of the leading actors who have appeared, and the alleged irregularities that have come to light. We will investigate the timeline of the evidence presented and the possible implications of these allegations.
On Monday, the CBI filed a 200-page chargesheet against Arvind Kejriwal and five others almost 712 days after the registration of an FIR in a case that signalled the culmination of a long investigation in the alleged scam. Besides Kejriwal, the chargesheet mentions AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak, Sarath Reddy from Aurobindo Pharma, Amit Arora of Buddy Retail, and Ashish Mathur of an enterprise and hawala operator Vinod Chauhan. Strangely, none of these men have yet been apprehended.
The CBI even states that Kejriwal, in this scam, was a direct player. The chargesheet has said that the draft of the GoM policy report was personally submitted by Kejriwal at his residence. This report, detailing the new excise policy, was manipulated to suit and fund the “liquor cartel”.
It alleged that Kejriwal extended assurance of support to Reddy and asked him to make political contributions to AAP. It was further alleged that a return kickback of about Rs 100 crore was paid to AAP politicians and public servants who had facilitated the changes in the excise policy. The kickbacks were allegedly managed through excess credit notes issued to wholesalers holding L-1 licenses, bank transfers, and outstanding accounts left in the controlled companies to disguise the transactions.
The chargesheet specifically mentions a cartel formed by liquor manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers which allegedly flagrantly violated the provisions with the aim of inflicting substantial loss on the exchequer. The entire conspiracy is stated to have been worked out by the conspirators for achieving illegal gratifications by the public servants and benefits to the other accused with substantial loss inflicted on the exchequer.
It also states that cash was paid to persons engaged in the party, including survey workers, area managers, and assembly managers, with the payments managed by Vijay Nair and Durgesh Pathak, during the Goa elections campaigns.
Businessman Sarath Reddy, based in Hyderabad, arrested by the ED in November 2022, turned approver in June 2023 and provided crucial testimony against the accused. Kejriwal was arrested from Tihar Jail on June 26, where he was lodged in the judicial custody, in a related money-laundering case. His application for bail was granted by the trial court, but on the high court putting a stay on the order. The Supreme Court later considered his case for interim bail.
The Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 was scrapped in 2022 after the Delhi LG ordered a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities and corruption in its formulation and execution.
The conclusion of the chargesheet of the CBI showcases a mesh of crores against Arvind Kejriwal, among others represented, alleging that the excuse policy of Delhi was manipulated to gain money. The probe brings to the notice of deep corruption that took place, according to detailed testimonies. What lies next in political and legal terms will only be unfolded with the course of law.
