Kejriwal Promised Rs 90 Lakh To Each Goa Election Candidate, CBI Tells Delhi Court

By OB Bureau On Aug 27, 2024

CBI's first 2 arrests in NEET case — Pic courtesy ANI

New Delhi: Money generated from the excise ‘scam’ was spent according to the wishes of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told a city court on Tuesday. In its submission before special judge Kaveri Baweja, the central agency said, “Money has been spent according to the wishes of Kejriwal…the entire money was sent in the funds of AAP.”

“He had promised Rs 90 lakh to be given to each candidate of each constituency and there are 40 constituencies in Goa,” PTI quoted the CBI as stating.

In its submission, the CBI alleged that former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) communication in-charge Vijay Nair was appointed by the jailed CM to negotiate a deal with the ‘South Group’.

This group, dubbed by the agency as a “cartel of businessmen” and leaders who allegedly paid Rs 100 crore kickbacks to AAP in return for liquor licenses, comprised Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha, Arun Pillai, Raghav Magunta, Arun Pillai, Butchibabu Gorantla, P Sarath Reddy, Abhishek Boinpally and Benoy Babu.

As per the agency, AAP appointed MLA from Rajinder Nagar, Durgesh Pathak, as party in-charge for Goa elections. All the money received via kickbacks was spent on his instructions, the agency claimed. The CBI has alleged that all the transactions involving election expenses were made in cash.

Notably, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s judicial custody has been extended till September 3. The AAP convenor has been in Tihar jail since being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21. He had got bail from a trial court on June 20. However, the Delhi High Court struck down the bail order a day later. Kejriwal had moved the Supreme Court on June 22 against the HC court order but was arrested by the CBI on June 26.

On July 11, the top court granted him bail in the money laundering case filed by ED. Kejriwal’s colleagues Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, who were also arrested by the central agencies, are out on bail.