New Delhi, January 15 (UITV)- The Union Home Ministry has given approval to the ED to prosecute two top leaders of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the money laundering case. Amid preparations for the Delhi Assembly elections 2025, this order of the Home Ministry has increased the difficulties of Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. Many serious allegations are being made against Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, due to which their political difficulties seem to be increasing. The Union Home Ministry has recently approved the prosecution of these two leaders in the money laundering case. This case is related to the liquor scam of 2021-22, in which these leaders are allegedly accused of involvement. The process of investigation and prosecution against both the leaders has accelerated after the Union Home Ministry allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case is linked to the liquor scam of 2021-22, when the Delhi government implemented a new liquor policy. Under this policy, several changes were made regarding the sale and distribution of liquor. It is alleged that the AAP government used this policy to benefit liquor traders, from whom bribes were allegedly taken. Specifically, a cartel called South Group has been accused of taking advantage of this policy to control the liquor business in Delhi and bribe some politicians associated with it.
The ED initiated a money laundering investigation in connection with this scam and claimed that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia were the main accused in this scam. The ED accused Kejriwal of taking bribes from some liquor traders for his party’s campaign in the Goa elections. Further, the investigating agency said that Kejriwal was responsible for this money laundering as he was part of the AAP executive as the national convener.
An important legal aspect in the case was that investigating agencies have to first obtain sanction from the Union Home Ministry to initiate action against a prominent public figure. Following the verdict given by the Supreme Court in November 2024, the ED also had to obtain permission in the case under Section 197(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This provision was already applicable in the CBI case, which said that sanction is required before initiating prosecution against any minister or high-ranking person.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had last month given approval to prosecute Arvind Kejriwal. Following this, the CBI filed a chargesheet in the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, naming Kejriwal and Sisodia.
Arvind Kejriwal was earlier arrested by the ED but later got bail. The chargesheet alleged that Kejriwal and his associates benefited liquor traders as per government policies and took bribes in return. The investigating agency claimed that in this way funds were raised for the election campaign during the Goa elections.
Despite the allegations, both Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia have denied these allegations and alleged that this entire process is the result of political malice. Both leaders say that the BJP is using investigating agencies to trap its political opponents.
In view of the preparations for the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia have continued campaigning in Delhi despite the allegations against them. Arvind Kejriwal has already announced that he will file his nomination from the New Delhi constituency of Delhi on February 5. Despite the ongoing investigation and allegations against him in the election environment, he is engaged in gathering support for his party.
Both Kejriwal and Sisodia have taken this political crisis as a struggle for their party. They say that the BJP and other opposition parties are resorting to these allegations to stop their popularity. Despite this, both leaders are seeking support from the voters of Delhi and claiming that their government has taken several important steps for the development of Delhi.
Allegations of money laundering and liquor scam against Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia have made the politics of Delhi more complicated. Despite these allegations, Kejriwal and Sisodia are campaigning for their party and they hope that the people of Delhi will vote for them by looking beyond the allegations leveled against them. However, this case can have a profound impact on the upcoming elections and the politics of Delhi. Specifically, it remains to be seen whether these allegations have any effect on their political image and whether they are able to win the upcoming elections.
