Arvind Kejriwal : Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court challenging the trial court's decision to take cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) prosecution complaints in the excise policy case, citing lack of sanction. Kejriwal is seeking the court's direction to quash the trial court's order and stay the proceedings. The plea is expected to be heard tomorrow. According to the information, the plea argued that the trial court judge in the impugned order erred in taking cognizance of an offense under section 3 of PMLA, punishable under section 4 of PMLA, without obtaining prior sanction under section 197 (1) of CrPC for the prosecution of the petitioner.

Delhi High Court had sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate.

On November 12, the Delhi High Court sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea filed by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal challenging summons issued to him in connection with the agency's money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam. Arvind Kejriwal is currently out on bail in both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases related to the now-expired excise policy. According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the excise policy was deliberately designed with loopholes to benefit AAP leaders and promote cartel formation.

The ED accused the AAP leaders of accepting bribes from liquor barons in exchange for preferential treatment including discounts, license fee waivers, and relief during Covid-19 disruptions. The ED further alleged that the scam involved giving bulk liquor distribution rights to private entities with a 12% margin in exchange for a 6% bribe. Additionally, the AAP leaders were accused of influencing the outcome of elections in Punjab and Goa in early 2022.