The Enforcement Directorate (ED) dropped a bombshell on Monday, alleging a conspiracy involving BRS leader K Kavitha and top leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to manipulate the now-defunct Delhi excise policy. According to ED claims, Kavitha and her associates orchestrated a scheme to secure favorable terms in the Delhi excise policy by paying ₹100 crore to the ruling political party in Delhi, led by AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia.
The ED’s assertions come in the wake of Kavitha’s arrest last week from her Hyderabad residence, where she remains in ED custody until March 23. The federal agency asserted that its investigation unearthed evidence of collusion between Kavitha and AAP leaders to influence the formulation and execution of the Delhi excise policy, generating a continuous flow of illicit funds, primarily in the form of kickbacks from wholesalers, for the AAP.
“In exchange for these favors, she was involved in paying ₹100 crore to the leaders of AAP,” the ED claimed, emphasizing the alleged acts of corruption and conspiracy in the policy’s formulation and execution. The agency further alleged that Kavitha and her associates were involved in channeling proceeds of crime to AAP and profiting from the illicit scheme.
During court proceedings last week, the ED characterized Kavitha as a key conspirator and beneficiary of the Delhi excise policy scam, seeking her remand to delve deeper into the matter. However, Kavitha staunchly denied any wrongdoing, attributing her arrest to political vendetta, asserting that the Centre was leveraging the ED for partisan gains.
In response to these allegations, the Aam Aadmi Party accused the BJP of exploiting government agencies like the ED and CBI to target political adversaries, denouncing their actions as an abuse of power.
The ED disclosed that since initiating the case in 2022, it has conducted searches at 245 locations nationwide and apprehended 15 individuals, including former Delhi Deputy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, and several liquor businessmen. The agency has filed six charge sheets in connection with the case, seizing assets valued at over ₹128 crore.
The controversy surrounding the Delhi excise policy erupted when allegations surfaced suggesting favoritism, cartelization, and corruption in the grant of liquor licenses, prompting its subsequent annulment. Following the recommendations of Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, a CBI probe was initiated into the irregularities, leading to the ED’s involvement and the pursuit of legal action against implicated parties.
Comments