Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, has been arrested from his Sheesh Mahal in connection with the liquor gate case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials and senior officials of the Delhi Police served a memo to him at his residence. This arrest comes after the arrest of Manish Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister, and Sanjay Singh, a Rajya Sabha member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and K Kavitha (MLA and daughter of BRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao)
The former bureaucrat turned politician is the co-founder and a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He started his political journey in the year 2012 with a pledge for a corruption-free India. His unconventional strategies and relentless fight against corruption have drawn immense attention, making him one of India’s most influential politicians. But soon his name started getting attached with various scams and irregularities of funds and finally on March, 21st 2024, he was been arrested by the Central agency on charges of corruptions.
Major Scams reported in Delhi under the Leadership of Arvind Kejriwal
Like any political figure, Kejriwal’s journey is an amalgamation of victories and setbacks. After the historic win in the Delhi Assembly Elections, he has often found himself embroiled in controversies that led to legal scuffles. Be it a defamation case associated with the PM Modi degree certificate or the ongoing probe into alleged scams and irregularities, these legal challenges have made frequent headlines. His name has been associated with many scams in the last 12 years. Some of the scams are as follows
Decoding Delhi Liquor Scam
The AAP Government brought a New Excise policy and within a few months had to withdraw the same. Mr Navjot Sidhu who has shared astounding figures of the Liquor sale and profitability
Sidhu further that a year before the new excise policy was brought in, Rs 7,860 crore was sold and Rs 3,878 was revenue from excise. “But, the year they withdrew the old policy and brought in the new policy, the sales increase to Rs 13,500 crore, but the state’s revenue was 300 crore. AAP claims to have introduced an exceptional policy, which seems true as sales were almost doubled but the profitability was drastically reduced by 90 %. Based on such alarming sale/profitability figures, the Delhi Chief Secretary reports a “Gross Violation of the policy”
Timeline of the events in Delhi liquor policy
| Period | Events |
| Nov 2021 | Delhi government implements new excise policy |
| July 8, 2022 | Delhi Chief Secretary reports gross violations in policy |
| July 22, 2022 | Delhi Lieutenant Governor recommends CBI probe into violation of rules |
| Aug 19, 2022 | CBI raids then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, three others |
| Aug 22, 2022 | The Enforcement Directorate files money laundering case on liquor policy |
| Sep, 2022 | Aam Aadmi Party communications head Vijay Nair arrested by CBI |
| Mar 2023 | Enforcement Directorate arrests then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia |
| Oct 2023 | AAP leader Sanjay Singh arrested by the Enforcement Directorate |
| Oct 2023 | ED sends first summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal |
| Mar 15, 2024 | Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha arrested by Enforcement Directorate |
| Mar 21, 2024 | Arvind Kejriwal skipped the ED’s summons for a ninth time today in the Delhi liquor policy case. Hours later, the Delhi High Court refused to grant him protection from arrest. The Enforcement Directorate team conducted a search and questioning at his home, after which he was arrested |
Key Players
The key players in the Delhi liquor scam include Vijay Nair, who was responsible for media campaigns for the AAP, Amand Dalal, the director of a liquor marketing company, Dinesh Arora, a restaurant owner, Amit Aurora, a businessman, and Samir Mahindru, the director of another liquor marketing company. Additionally, the South Group, led by K Kavita, is alleged to have played a significant role in the conspiracy.
What is the CBI’s case and the ED’s case?
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating corruption charges related to the scam, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is looking into money laundering allegations. The CBI alleges that the AAP accepted bribes from liquor barons and businessmen in exchange for policy changes that favoured them. The ED is investigating the flow of funds and the alleged proceeds of crime in connection with the scam.
What triggered the investigation?
The investigation was triggered by a recommendation from the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, who recommended a CBI probe into the irregularities and modifications in the excise policy. The policy was alleged to have given undue advantages to certain liquor barons and companies, resulting in financial losses to the exchequer.
What are the specific cases against Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh?
Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, both key members of the AAP, are facing specific cases related to their alleged involvement in the liquor scam. The CBI alleges that Sisodia, as the excise minister, was the chief architect of the conspiracy, while Singh is accused of facilitating meetings between businessmen and party leaders. The ED is investigating the money laundering aspect of the case. Another trusted aide Satyendar Jain is in Jail in a separate money Laundering Case
Events leading to Delhi CM’s arrest
Cases have been registered for most of the above scams and he was under the scanner of various Central Investigations agencies for a very long time.
He has been summoned for the 9th time by from Enforcement department to appear for discussion (Last was on March 21st, 2024) for his allegedly Involvement in the Delhi Liquor scam.
He has received frequent warnings and penalties from the Judiciary system.
Though he and his Ministers accuse BJP and PM Modi of vendetta politics some of his ministers and close aides are already in jail for their alleged involvement in various scams.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was playing Hide and seek with the central agencies and the Judiciary system. He kept on Ignoring the summons from the Enforcement directorate (ED) for his alleged involvement in the Liquor gate scam.
Alongside he was seeking relief from the Judiciary system to grant him protection from arrest but his repeated plea was rejected as the court observed that there was material to justify calling Kejriwal for questioning, prompting its decision, not to grant interim protection.
Finally, an ED official reached reach Delhi CM’s residence on March 21st, 2024 to serve the 10th summon leading to his arrest after a big drama.
Available Information suggests that Delhi CM was highly non-cooperative in answering ED officials and was not ready to sign the arrest memo. But soon he was left with “No choice” but to get arrested. His phone, laptop and available digital devices have been confiscated.
What after the Arrest of Delhi CM – Mr Arvind Kejriwal?
Delhi CM underwent a Medical Test on March 21st, 2024, after arrest, which will be repeated on March 22, 2024 (Morning)
The Legal Team of Delhi CM approached the Supreme Court on March 21st, 2024 for immediate intervention but the apex court didn’t pay any heed on Thursday. His petition will be heard in Supreme Court today ie Mar 22, 2024. The hearing will be held in the Supreme Court at 10:30 am
He may be presented to Rouse Avenue Court on March 22, 2024, through Video conferencing.
Experts feel that he may be sent to ED custody for custodial interrogation, like in the case of K Kavitha, who was arrested on March 15th, 2024.
Though AAP officials have started blaming the Honourable PM, the same seems to be a futile effort as ED claims to have sufficient evidence. Some of the evidence has been submitted to the Court which showcases a likely scam of Rs 338 Crores.
ED has filed one prosecution complaint and five supplementary complaints in the case so far. “Further, out of proceeds of crime generated, assets worth Rs 128.79 crore have been traced so far and have been attached vide Provisional Attachment Orders dated January 24, 2023, and July 3, 2023
Though AAP Officials feel, that PM Modi is afraid of Arvind Kejriwal the reality is, in the last state elections, Aam Aadmi Party lost in all 205 constituencies it contested in the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh elections, failing to secure even 1% of the vote.
Though it was expected that the Äam Aadmi of Delhi” ie the resident of Delhi would come on the roads to protest his arrest but the same didn’t happen much as on March 21st, 2024.
‘Social media has mixed response after his arrest, though some AAP supporters feel that the ED has become the “Political tool” of the BJP but in reality, proceeds of crime have been traced amounting to Rs 128.79 crore and have been attached.
Section 144 has been imposed around ED Headquarters in the national capital.
Security tightened near BJP HQ as AAP workers plan to protest today
Though parties related to the INDIA Alliance is questioning about the timing but the reality is “Kejriwal is avoiding summons of ED” since Nov 2nd 2023 which means it was a deliberate attempt by the Delhi CM to delay the investigation for the last 5 months.
Will Delhi CM Resign?
Arvind Kejriwal has refused to resign from the Post of Chief Minister of Delhi after his arrest. At the same time, AAP leader Atishi affirmed that Kejriwal will not resign from his post and, if needed, will run the government from jail.
The same has sparked a debate about whether he can continue to be the Chief Minister of Delhi and run the government from jail if required.
Some argue that there is no law stopping him from doing so, but running an office behind Bars is logistical impossible. As per the law, a Chief Minister can only be disqualified or removed from office when he is convicted in any case. Arvind Kejriwal has not been convicted yet.
In such a scenario LG can involve the President of India in seeking to suspend the operations of Article 239 AA (Article 239AA is the Constitutional provision dealing with the National Capital Territory of Delhi)
The irony of the fact is that the “AAP Party” was formed to fight against Corruption but the Delhi liquor scam has brought several members of the AAP under scrutiny, with allegations of corruption and money laundering. It will be interesting to know the Court verdict on March 22nd, 2024 as lawyers of Delhi CM have to battle between “Bail” or “Jail”. The judicial system will decide the fate of Delhi CM but as the common man, we can only hope for corruption-free Delhi, corruption-free India.