Additional Solicitor General S V Raju asserted in court that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) possesses sufficient evidence demonstrating that Arvind Kejriwal demanded a Rs 100 crore bribe, which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) allegedly used for its Goa assembly election campaign.
According to News18, the ED is expected to file its ninth supplementary chargesheet on Friday, likely naming AAP and its national convenor, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, as prime accused in the Delhi liquor policy ‘scam’. The publication indicates that AAP can be named an accused through Kejriwal under Section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Additionally, the ED may invoke rules under the Representation of People’s Act to demonstrate that AAP’s bank accounts received kickbacks from the alleged scam, which were then used to fund the party’s Goa assembly elections campaign. The publication also highlights that this action by the ED could have significant political and administrative consequences for AAP, potentially leading to complaints to the Election Commission and the attachment of the party’s bank accounts and assets under PMLA proceedings.
During a Supreme Court hearing on Kejriwal’s challenge to his arrest in the money laundering case, Raju reiterated that the ED is preparing to file a prosecution complaint against Kejriwal and AAP. He claimed that the evidence includes details such as Kejriwal’s stay in a seven-star hotel, partially paid by an accused in the case, and his key role in formulating the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. Raju argued that Kejriwal, as AAP’s national convenor, is vicariously liable for the alleged scam despite not holding any departmental portfolio.
