New Delhi: Following the Enforcement Directorate (ED) approached the Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to grant permission to prosecute Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy scam case, the Lt governor granted the central agency sanction to the same, The Indian Express reported.
ED wrote to Delhi Chief Secretary Dharmendra in his capacity as Chief Vigilance Officer on December 5.
ED’s request for sanction read, “It is to inform that this office has filed the Prosecution Complaint (SPC-7) against Sh. Arvind Kejriwal (Accused No. 37) on 17.05.2024 in the case M/s Indo-Spirits and Others for irregularities in framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD of Delhi for the year 2021-22” TIE quoted.
ED said in its request that a Special Court had taken cognizance of the Prosecution Complaint filed by it dated 09.07.2024 and that the Supreme Court had, in the case of ED vs Bibhu Prasad Acharya & others, clarified that the Provision of Cr. PC applied to Section 65 of the PMLA, and Section 71(1) “cannot override the provision of Cr.PC which applies to the PMLA” vide its judgment dated 06.11.2024.
Meanwhile, AAP reacted to the development that the agency is talking about a prosecution sanction almost a year after the filing of the complaint, which shows the callousness with which the Enforcement Directorate is handling the case. The party said that the intention is to politically malign the AAP government in the national capital and accused the agency of breaching procedural norms and harassment in the name of investigation.