The Delhi High Court has granted the ED more time to respond to former CM Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s petition, challenging the trial court’s acceptance of charges in the Delhi Excise Liquor Policy case. The case, alleging corruption involving AAP leaders, is set for a hearing on February 5, 2025.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) additional time to file its response to the petition filed by Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. The petition challenges the trial court’s decision to take cognizance of the chargesheets filed by the ED in the controversial Delhi Excise Liquor Policy case.
The matter is scheduled for a hearing on February 5, 2025, before the bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri.
The High Court had recently issued a notice on Kejriwal and Sisodia’s plea, which argues that the trial court judge erred in taking cognizance of the alleged offence without obtaining prior sanction under Section 197(1) of the CrPC. According to the petition, this sanction is mandatory as Arvind Kejriwal was a public servant holding the position of Chief Minister during the time of the alleged offence.
Kejriwal and Sisodia are currently out on bail in both the ED and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases linked to the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy.
The ED claims that the excise policy was deliberately designed with loopholes to benefit AAP leaders and foster cartel formations. According to the chargesheet, AAP leaders allegedly received kickbacks from liquor businesses in exchange for favorable provisions, such as discounts, license fee waivers, and relief during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ED further alleged that the “scam” involved awarding wholesale liquor distribution rights to private entities with a fixed 12% margin, in return for a 6% kickback. These kickbacks, according to the ED, were allegedly used to influence elections in Punjab and Goa in early 2022.
The case has drawn widespread attention, given the involvement of top AAP leaders and allegations of misuse of public office. The petitioners are seeking to quash the trial court’s cognizance of the charges, citing procedural lapses and questioning the legitimacy of the ED’s allegations.
The case is part of a larger crackdown on alleged corruption in the excise policy, which has become a key focus for both the ED and CBI. The upcoming hearing in February will likely determine the next steps in this high-profile legal battle.
Stay tuned for updates as the Delhi Excise Policy case continues to unfold.
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