Explained: Delhi Excise Policy Case, Investigation, Arrests, Timeline — All You Need To Know
AAP leader Sanjay Singh will be produced before a local court on Thursday where ED will file a plea seeking his custodial interrogation.
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh over the alleged corruption in the 2021-22 Delhi Excise policy. After a day-long interrogation and raids at his residence, Singh was arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This was the second high-profile arrest after ED and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) nabbed former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in relation with the case.
According to a PTI report, Sanjay Singh is expected to be produced before a local court on Thursday where ED will file a plea seeking his custodial interrogation.
What Is The Delhi Excise Policy Case?
The Arvind Kejriwal government introduced the new liquor policy in November 2021. In the new excise policy, the government stopped retail sale of liquor and allowed private licensees to run stores.
As per the government, the new excise policy was introduced to crack down on black marketing and help boost the government revenue.
The controversy over the excise policy started with allegations that the AAP government extended “undue financial favours” to the liquor licensees, causing huge loss to the exchequer.
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the matter leading to a war of words between the BJP and AAP.
A report by the Chief Secretary of Delhi on July 8, 2022 also showed prima facie violations of GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR) 1993, Delhi Excise Act 2009 and Delhi Excise Rules 2010.
Soon after on July 30, the new policy was rolled back.
The Investigation And Arrests
After taking over the probe, the CBI in August last year raided the residence of former deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Sisodia said the agency did not find anything against him and that the saffron party had fabricated the case to target the AAP government.
The ED, too, joined the investigation, based on an FIR registered against Sisodia and 14 others.
CBI made the first arrest in the case last year with Vijay Nair, former CEO of an event management firm who had alleged connections with AAP.
CBI made the second arrest with Abhishek Boinpally, director with Robin Distilleries. Boinpally was allegedly lobbying for some businessman. In November 2022, ED arrested Sarath Reddy of Aurobindo Pharma and Benoy Babu, an executive of liquor giant Pernod Ricard.
The CBI later arrested Buchi Babu, former Chartered Accountant of Ms Kavitha, in February this year.
The first high-profile arrest was made in March with Manish Sisodia. He was arrested on money laundering charges.
The Timeline Of The Case
- 17 November 2021 - New liquor policy comes into force
- July 22, 2022 - CBI inquiry recommended
- July 30, 2022 – New liquor policy rolled back
- August 19, 2022 -CBI raid at Sisodia's house
- August 30, 2022 - Search of Sisodia's bank locker
- September 5, 2022 - ED joins probe, ED raid
- October 17, 2022 - CBI interrogates Sisodia for 9 hours
- November 25, 2022 - Sisodia's name not in CBI's first chargesheet.
- February 19, 2023 - CBI summons Sisodia for questioning. He doesn’t show up
- February 26, 2023 - CBI arrests Sisodia after questioning.
- 14 April 2023 – CBI summons CM Arvind Kejriwal for questioning.
- 16 April 2023 - CBI interrogates CM Kejriwal for 9 and a half hours
- 4 October 2023- Sanjay Singh arrested after interrogation
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