CBI Terms Kejriwal ‘Main Conspirator’ In Excise Policy Case

New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal is one of the “main conspirators” of the criminal conspiracy in the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told a special court Wednesday while seeking five days’ custody of the chief minister of Delhi.

Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI hours before the Supreme Court was set to hear his plea against a Delhi High Court order that stayed the bail granted to him by a lower court. The special CBI court Wednesday granted the CBI three days’ custody to question Kejriwal over alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-withdrawn Delhi Excise Policy (2021-22).

Seeking Kejriwal’s remand, the CBI furnished grounds similar to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) submissions in March, including Kejriwal’s meetings with Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K. Kavitha and Magunta Srinivashu Reddy, the newly elected Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Member of Parliament from Ongole, to “discuss the liquor business”, The Print reported.

Stating the grounds for arrest, CBI told the special court that Vijay Nair, identified as a close associate of Kejriwal, was “contacting various liquor manufacturers and traders and demanding undue gratification since March 2021, for incorporation of provisions favourable to them in the upcoming Delhi Excise Policy for the year 2021-22”.

The agency further claimed Reddy met Kejriwal on 16 March 2021 at his office in the Delhi Secretariat and requested him for support vis-a-vis the liquor business in Delhi. During the meeting, Kejriwal allegedly assured Reddy of support and asked him to contact Kavitha.

“Kejriwal also told Reddy to provide monetary funding to AAP (Aam Aadmi Party). It is corroborated with documentary material on record,” the CBI said in its remand note.

The case pertains to allegations against the AAP government of granting undue financial favours to vendors seeking liquor licences, thereby causing losses of “over Rs 140 crore” to the exchequer, and receiving kickbacks in return for those favours, besides conniving with owners of several companies as part of a nexus.

On 22 July last year, Delhi L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, alleging “deliberate and gross procedural lapses”, according to an assessment report prepared by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar. Alleged irregularities included modifications in the policy, extension of undue favours to licensees like waivers and reduction in licence fee, and extension of L-1 licence (granted to entities having wholesale distribution experience in liquor trade) without prior approval.