Delhi Liquor Policy Case: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's lawyer on Friday told Delhi Rouse Avenue Court that there was "no material" or "evidence" to show any wrongdoing in excise policy formulation or receipt of any proceeds by the Aam Aadmi Party chief. The Delhi CM was produced on Friday before the Rouse Avenue court in the national capital in connection with the liquor policy case. He was sent to the ED's custody till March 28.
Kejriwal's lawyer stated that ED misused its power under Prevention of Money Laundering Act to unleash political vendetta. The AAP national convenor was arrested by the probe agency on Thursday under the anti-money laundering law from his official residence in the Civil Lines area of Delhi.
While opposing the probe agency's demand for his custody, Kejriwal's lawyer told the court "that the present case is stitched together only on the basis of statements of co-accused and statement of officers who are working under the control of the complainant herein i.e. LG of Delhi," as quoted by news agency PTI.
"There is no material or evidence to show any wrongdoing in policy formulation or any receipt of any proceeds by the arrestee. That despite investigating the matter for over the year and despite conducting more than 200 raids, no incriminating material showing involvement of arrestee in any crime or involvement in any process/ activity was found," he contended.
Meanwhile the ED claimed that Kejriwal received kickbacks from the 'South group' for formulating and implementing the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
"Sh Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi is the kingpin and key conspirator of the Delhi Excise Scam in collusion with Ministers of Delhi Govt, AAP leaders and other persons. Sh Arvind Kejriwal was involved in the conspiracy of formulation of the Excise policy 2021-22 to favour certain persons and also involved in the demanding kickbacks from liquor businessmenin exchange of favours granting in the said policy," the ED's remand note stated.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the probe agency, stated in court that the Delhi CM demanded Rs 100 crore from some accused from the 'South group' for election campaigning.
Raju claimed that the money trail revealed Rs 45 crore kickback used in the Goa assembly elections came from four hawala routes, with corroborating evidence from statements of accused and witnesses supported by Call Detail Records (CDR).
"As per the investigation done so far, the proceeds of crime of about Rs. 45 Cr approx. which was part of the bribes received from the South Group was used in the election campaign of the AAP in Goa in 2021-22," the remand note mentioned.