Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot Grilled by ED in Money Laundering Probe Post Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest
Credit:NPG News
Here is a table of contents :
- Introduction Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest
- The Focus Shifts: Kailash Gahlot’s Interrogation
- Unraveling the Excise Policy Controversy
- Technological Intricacies: The SIM Number and IMEI Changes
- Timing and Significance of Summons
- Impact and Ramifications
- Conclusion
30.03.2024: Delhi minister and AAP leader Kailash Gahlot was today questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy. Mr Gahlot is currently the minister for home, transport, and law in the Delhi government.
Mr Gahlot was questioned by the ED for over five hours. Sources said the probe agency asked him about the process following while drafting the policy.
“I was questioned for nearly 5.5 hours. I will come in for questioning again if the ED summons me,” the AAP leader said after leaving the probe agency’s office.
The summons came just days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in the case.
The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped.
The ED claims the policy provided an impossibly high profit margin of nearly 185 per cent for retailers and 12 per cent for wholesalers. Of the latter, six per cent – over ₹ 600 crore – was recovered as bribes and the money was allegedly used to fund the Goa and Punjab poll campaigns, the agency claims.
This group is alleged to have given ₹ 100-crore kickbacks to the AAP and its leaders.
The ED has also alleged in its chargesheet that Mr Gahlot handled a single SIM number but his IMEI (international mobile equipment identity) was changed thrice.
Three top Aam Aadmi Party leaders including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have been arrested in the Delhi liquor policy case. The other two are AAP MP Sanjay Singh and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
-From- NDTV News
In the aftermath of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, the spotlight has turned towards Delhi minister and AAP leader Kailash Gahlot, who faced intense questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding an alleged money laundering case intertwined with the city’s liquor policy. Mr. Gahlot, holding pivotal portfolios in the Delhi government, including home, transport, and law, found himself at the center of a burgeoning investigation that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape.
During the rigorous interrogation lasting over five hours, ED officials delved into the intricate details of the Delhi government’s excise policy for the fiscal year 2021-22, a policy that has since been annulled amidst allegations of corruption and illicit financial activities. The ED contends that the policy’s design facilitated exorbitant profit margins for both retailers and wholesalers, with a significant portion of these gains alleged to have been siphoned off as bribes, purportedly funneling into election campaigns in Goa and Punjab.
The ED’s inquiries extended beyond financial irregularities, touching upon technological aspects as well. The agency’s chargesheet alleges that Mr. Gahlot had dealings involving a single SIM number but underwent multiple changes in the IMEI (international mobile equipment identity), adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation.
The timing of these summons, following closely on the heels of Arvind Kejriwal’s detention in connection to the same case, underscores the gravity of the situation and the widening net of scrutiny cast upon prominent AAP figures. Notably, alongside Mr. Kejriwal and Mr. Gahlot, other high-profile AAP leaders, including MP Sanjay Singh and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, have also been embroiled in the controversy surrounding the Delhi liquor policy.
As the investigation unfolds, the repercussions reverberate not just within political circles but also across public discourse, casting a shadow over the ethical and legal ramifications of governance decisions. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving saga that has captivated the nation’s attention.