Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday for questioning in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy for the capital. Gahlot, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Najafgarh, arrived at the ED office in central Delhi around 11:30 am to face queries regarding the alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22.
Following his ED appearance, Gahlot stated, "Whatever questions were asked to me, I answered all of them." He said he was quizzed by the central agency for about five hours. He clarified that although a government bungalow was allotted to him in Civil Lines, he had consistently resided in his private residence in Vasant Kunj.
"The government bungalow was allotted to me in Civil Lines, but I have always stayed in my private residence in Vasant Kunj because my wife and kids didn’t want to move from there. Vijay Nair was living in the bungalow allotted to me... But I have never shifted there. I told them I did not know whether he was living there. No cross-questioning was conducted..." he remarked, as quoted by news agency ANI.
Regarding the Goa Assembly election angle in the Liquor policy case, he asserted, "I have never been part of the Goa election campaign and I am unaware of what happened." The ED had claimed that the money from the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam was spent by the AAP in the Assembly polls in the coastal state.
Responding to the allegations, Gahlot maintained, "There has been no such scam. Our party's (AAP) stand has been this only. With time, you all will get convinced by this too." AAP leaders have repeatedly denied the charges of wrongdoing, attributing the case to political motives aimed at tarnishing the party's image.
Why ED Quizzed Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot
The ED has alleged that the excise policy was leaked to the South Group liquor lobby, which purportedly gave Rs 100 crore kickbacks to the AAP and its leaders. Gahlot, being a part of the Group of Ministers (GoM), was summoned to provide insights into the formulation of the policy.
The agency has also accused Gahlot of using a single SIM number while changing his international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) thrice. Additionally, Gahlot's name has been mentioned in the context of Vijay Nair, the AAP communications in-charge previously arrested in the case, who was found residing in the government bungalow allotted to Gahlot, according to news agency PTI.
The case has seen several arrests, including prominent AAP leaders like Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, who are currently in judicial custody. Despite the allegations and arrests, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, accusing the BJP-led Centre of orchestrating the case as a ploy to discredit the party.