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Delhi minister quizzed for 5 hours by ED days after Arvind Kejriwal arrest: ‘Know nothing about Goa…’
Kailash Gahlot said he never denied that Vijay Nair was staying at his govt-allotted bungalow in Civil Lines.
Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate for five hours on Saturday in connection with the now-scrapped liquor policy which allegedly saw crores passing hands under the table and landed Delhi chief minister Kejriwal in ED custody. Gahlot was part of the Group of Ministers who prepared and implemented the liquor scheme. This was the second summons issued to Gahlot and he responded to it. He skipped the first one as Delhi Assembly proceedings were on at that time, the minister said.
On Vijay Nair staying at Kailash Gahlot's bungalow
Kailah Gahlot's name featured in the high-profile case not only because he was part of the Group of Ministers behind the policy but also because AAP's Vijay Nair was staying at the bungalow allotted to him at Civil Lines. ED alleged that Vijay Nair, AAP's communication in-charge at the time when the policy was formulated, was staying near the chief minister's residence. The residence officially belonged to Kailash Gahlot.
"See, I always said I never stayed at my govt-allotted bungalow because my wife and kids did not want to move from Vasant Kunj. I never shifted to Civil Lines. I told this to the CBI as well. Today also, I said I had no information about Vijay Nair staying at my place," Kailash Gahlot said.
That Vijay Nair was staying at the bungalow allotted to Kailash Gahlot was a "criminal breach of trust", the ED said earlier.
'I know nothing about Goa election campaign'
Kailash Gahlot said he was never part of the Goa election campaign where the alleged proceeds of the liquor scam were funnelled. "I can't comment on this because I was never part of Goa election campaign planning," Kailash Gahlot said adding that he was not confronted with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The agency is tightening the screw on Aam Aadmi Party with summoning AAP leaders of Punjab and Goa in connection with the case as it said in the court that its investigation found the money trail -- the money that the south cartel gave to Arvind Kejriwal. ED said the money was used in AAP's election campaign in Goa.
