For the seventh consecutive occasion, Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, has chosen not to comply with the Enforcement Directorate’s request to appear for questioning regarding the controversy surrounding the liquor policy. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has responded to this latest summons by advising the Enforcement Directorate to await the court’s verdict, which is scheduled for March 16, before issuing further notices.
AAP remains steadfast in its commitment to the INDIA alliance, asserting its resistance against the pressure from the Modi-led government. This declaration underscores the party’s intent to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party’s National Democratic Alliance in the next Lok Sabha elections, amidst allegations of the central government’s misuse of power to weaken opposition through relentless legal challenges.
Following Kejriwal’s repeated refusals, the AAP has criticized the Enforcement Directorate’s actions as ‘unlawful’, especially after the agency proceeded with legal steps post his fifth no-show. The controversy stems from an investigation initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation into alleged irregularities in the Delhi government’s alcohol excise policy, which was implemented in November 2021 and subsequently withdrawn in July 2022 after recommendations for a probe into its anomalies.
The excise policy in question is accused of being restructured to benefit wholesalers and retailers at the expense of the state, leading to charges of significant bribery involving AAP leaders and entities from the South Group, with businessman Vijay Nair being a key facilitator. The scandal has led to the arrest of prominent AAP members Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, further intensifying the political and legal battle surrounding the Delhi liquor policy case.
