(Image source from: PTI)

The federal agency has accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of being the "key conspirator" and his Aadmi Party (AAP) as the "main beneficiary of criminal proceeds". The agency filed a supplementary charge sheet alleging financial irregularities in the now-defunct 2021-22 excise. The court has taken cognizance of the -page document, which names Kejriwal and AAP as the accused. According to the charge sheet, Kejriwal was "knowingly involved" in using criminal proceeds from AAP's Goa election campaign in 2022 and was "deeply involved in the entire conspiracy" in the alleged scam. The agency alleged that Kejriwal sought Rs 100 crore in kickbacks from the "South Group" for a liquor sales contract, of which Rs 45 crore was allegedly used to fund AAP's Goa election campaign. The ED also alleged that Kejriwal claimed that Vijay Nair, a-accused, reported to Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, not him.

The government agency alleged that the Delhi chief minister had received illicit payments from a fellow political party member, as evidenced by digital communication records. Investigators claimed the money was funneled through informal financial channels to finance a political campaign, with the chief minister purportedly using a portion of these funds for his own benefit. Despite being summoned multiple times, the chief minister reportedly failed to cooperate with the authorities' inquiries, raising further suspicions about his involvement in the matter. Lacking knowledge about the ten gatherings involving Nair and defendants implicated in the alcohol industry, including alcohol producers, wholesalers, retailers, and intermediaries like Dinesh Arora and Abhishek Boinpally. Arvind Kejriwal presented evidence including phone records of a company in Goa, information obtained by tax officials, WhatsApp messages indicating cash payments and invoices totaling Rs 45 lakh through hawala transactions. He did not know about these transactions, the indictment states.