On Friday, the Supreme Court granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case. The top court reserved its decision on September 5 after hearing from counsel for Kejriwal and the CBI. During the case’s hearing, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the CBI, protested against Kejriwal for not seeking bail from the trial court.
Kejriwal had directly approached the Delhi High Court for bail and then moved the apex court.
The Delhi CM was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe relating to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22. On June 26, he was arrested by CBI while he was in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate in the excise case.
What is the Delhi Excise Policy Case?
The Delhi government had come up with an excise policy in 2021-22 aiming to revitalise the city’s flagging liquor business by replacing the sales-volume-based regime with a license fee for traders, and promised swankier stores, free of the infamous metal grilles, ultimately giving customers a better buying experience. However, the policy was scrapped after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena sought a CBI probe into the policy alleging irregularities.
According to ED, the Kejriwal-led AAP received kickbacks to the tune of ₹100 crore to finalized the excise policy. It was also alleged that a large chunk of this money was used by the party in its Goa election campaign.
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Source: HT
