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Arvind Kejriwal kingpin of Delhi liquor scam, money trail traced Goa election campaign in 2022: ED to court
Arvind Kejriwal was directly involved in the formulation of the excise policy, ED tells court, seeking 10-day remand for the Delhi chief minister.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was the kingpin and key conspirator of the Delhi liquor policy scam, Enforcement Directorate told the Rouse Avenue court on Friday. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED late on Thursday night and produced before the court today.
Seeking 10-day remand for the chief minister, additional solicitor general SV Raju told the court that Kejriwal was directly involved in the formulation of the liquor policy and the subsequent use of the proceeds of the crime. The policy was made in such a manner that it enabled the taking of bribes, he said. Vijay Nair was the middleman between the Aam Aadmi Party and the south cartel, a key part of which was K Kavitha, who has already been arrested.
Kejriwal produced in court: What next? Follow LIVE updates
What ED told the court against Kejriwal
- Vijay Nair was staying near Arvind Kejriwal's house and was closely working with the chief minister who demanded kickbacks from liquor barons for extending favours under their policy.
- Arvind Kejriwal demanded ₹100 crore from some accused from the South group for the Punjab election, the ED told the court.
- The agency also said Kejriwal himself met with Kavitha and said they should work together on the liquor policy.
- The proceeds of crime were not only ₹100 crore but the profit made by the bribe givers was also the proceeds of crime.
- All vendors paid cash to a certain extent, the ED said.
- Proceeds of crime of about ₹45 crores received from the South group were used by Aam Aadmi Party in the Goa campaign in 2021-22.
- ED said they have corroboration of everything they are saying.
- A huge amount of cash changed hands, ED said. Kejriwal is also liable for the role of his associates.
- The agency said Goa MLAs said that they received cash
Kejriwal's first reaction after arrest
Kejriwal spent the last night at the ED custody. On Friday morning, Kejriwal withdrew his petition challenging the arrest from the Supreme Court and approached the lower court instead. In the afternoon, he was brought to the court amid a swelling crowd assembled to witness the proceedings. In his first reaction after the arrest, Kejriwal said his life is dedicated to the country regardless of whether he lives inside the jail or outside.
What Kejriwal said in court
Appearing for Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the ED has to show the necessity of the arrest. That ED needs to further trace the alleged money trail does not form the ground of arrest, it can be a ground of questionnaire. "You have the basic material, why should you want further custodial custody?" Singhvi said.
