In a recent and major verdict, the Supreme Court has ordered interim bail for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case brought by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the Delhi liquor policy. The bench of the Supreme Court, including Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, pronounced the judgment and noted that Kejriwal has been in jail for more than ninety days.
The AAP deplored the judgment, but when the verdict came in the Supreme Court, it took to the X (formerly Twitter), posting ‘Satyamev Jayate (truth alone triumphs)’ in Hindi with Kejriwal’s picture holding the national flag. Yet, Kejriwal will remain in custody as he is already being interrogated by the CBI for some other case.
Currently, the ED and CBI are also investigating the case related to the money laundering formation of the now-canceled Delhi liquor policy. The measure formulated in November 2021 had pulled out the Delhi government from directly selling liquor and enabled private licensees to open stores.
The CBI has said that liquor companies indulged in framing the excise policy, and theirs was a 12 percent commission, and through the ‘South Group,’ ₹100 crores was paid as a bribe to the AAP, out of which ₹ 10 crores was paid to some public servants. Again, the ED has accused individuals of money laundering of these kickbacks.
