"Money went to BJP via electoral bonds": AAP counters ED’s ’kingpin’ charge

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Mar 23, 2024: The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday countered the Enforcement Directorate’s ’kingpin of liquor policy scam’ charge against Chief Minister and party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, and alleged the money went to the BJP via electoral bonds.

 

Addressing a press conference in connection with Kejriwal’s arrest in the liquor policy case, Delhi Minister Atishi said, "In the so-called excise policy scam of Delhi, the investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been going on for the past two years."

"In these two years, a question has come up again and again - Where is the money trail? Where did the money go? No proceeds of crime were recovered from any leader, minister or worker of the Aam Aadmi Party," she said.

"Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in the same case two days back based on the statement of just one person - Sharat Chandra Reddy. He is the owner of Aurobindo Pharma, and paid to the BJP via electoral bonds."

"He was summoned on November 9, 2022, for questioning. He clearly said that he never met or spoke with Arvind Kejriwal and had nothing to do with the AAP. As soon as he said that, he was arrested the next day by the Enforcement Directorate," Atishi alleged.

"After being in jail for several months, he changed his statement. He said that he met Arvind Kejriwal and spoke with him over the excise policy matter. He was granted bail as soon as he said that. But where is the money? Where is the money trail?" she asked.

Also addressing the media, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "Since the time discussion started in the Supreme Court regarding the electoral bonds, the BJP, the SBI, the central government, and Election Commission were trying not to disclose the details. However, now that it has been disclosed, it raises various serious questions."

Arvind Kejriwal was on Friday remanded in Enforcement Directorate’s custody till March 28 "for his detailed and sustained interrogation" regarding his role in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

The court observed that custodial interrogation was required to "unearth the remaining proceeds of crime" and to "confront him with data retrieved from digital devices and material seized during the investigation".

The Delhi court remanded Kejriwal in Enforcement Directorate custody for six days after the agency pressed for his custodial interrogation for 10 days while accusing the AAP leader of being "involved in the entire conspiracy of the Delhi liquor scam, in drafting and implementation of the policy, for favouring and benefiting the quid pro receiving kickbacks and eventually using part of the proceeds of crime generated out of the scheduled offence in the election campaign for Goa Assembly election".

"Accused is hereby remanded to the custody of the probe agency till March 28 for the purposes of his detailed and sustained interrogation with respect to his role and to unearth the remaining proceeds of crime and for confronting him with data retrieved from digital devices and material seized during the investigation," the court said.

Courtesy: India Today