Kejriwal key conspirator in liquor scam, ED tells court

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was a “key conspirator” in the excise policy scam case along with other ministers and AAP leaders, as it sought his 10-day custody from a court here.

Kejriwal was produced in the trial court shortly after he withdrew from the Supreme Court his plea against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the excise policy-linked money laundering case on Thursday evening. During the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener’s remand hearing, the ED told Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court that Kejriwal received several crores of rupees as kickbacks from the ‘South group’ for formulating and implementing the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

He demanded Rs 100 crore from some accused from the ‘South group’ for contesting the Punjab elections, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, who is appearing for the agency, told the court. The law officer said the money trail showed that Rs 45 crore “kickback” used in the Goa elections came from four hawala routes. He said the statements of the accused and witnesses have been corroborated through Call Detail Records (CDR). The AAP chief was produced before the court around 2 pm amid tight security on and around the court premises. “We have given an application for 10 days’ remand,” ASG Raju told the court.