Trouble for Kejriwal again: Delhi L-G V K Saxena gives sanction for prosecution in excise policy case

On December 3, the ED had sought permission for sanction of prosecution against Arvind Kejriwal.

New Delhi: With Delhi Assembly elections to be held in less than two months, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has given sanction to the Enforcement Directorate to prosecute AAP supremo and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy scam.

The ED had sought prosecution sanction on December 3 and the L-G has been given his nod recently, sources said on Saturday. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia challenged the ED to share the copy of L-G's approval for sanction to prosecute Kejriwal.

While Atishi claimed that the news of prosecution sanction is being spread "only to mislead people and distract them from the issues", Sisodia alleged that it is clear that this news is "false and misleading".

Sources said the ED has claimed in documents shared with the L-G while seeking prosecution sanction that Kejriwal conspired with members of the 'South Group' to receive Rs 100 crore kickbacks to pass undue benefits to private entities by way of formulating and putting a "tailor-made" liquor policy.

The agency said 18 people were arrested and all are on bail, including Kejriwal who is on interim bail. It claimed that Kejriwal is the "kingpin and key conspirator" in the scam.

Kejriwal was arrested in March this year in the case, first by ED and then by the CBI. He was released on bail in September. Before his arrest, he had continuously evaded summons by the ED to appear before the investigators.