The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet alleging a conspiracy by top leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), as well as BR’s leader Kavitha Reddy and YSRCP MP Raghuram Krishnam Raju, in the Delhi excise policy ‘scam’. The ED has alleged that the accused manipulated the excise policy to benefit certain liquor brands and caused a loss of Rs 2,000 crore to the exchequer.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly conspired to manipulate the excise policy for the year 2015-16 to benefit certain liquor brands. They are accused of granting licenses to these brands at lower rates and allegedly ignoring higher bids from other companies, which resulted in a loss of revenue to the Delhi government.
The ED has claimed that the accused received kickbacks for their role in the conspiracy. It has also alleged that the AAP leaders used their political influence to ensure that certain liquor brands were given preferential treatment.
The charge sheet has named several high-profile individuals, including AAP leaders and ministers, as well as Kavitha Reddy and Raghuram Krishnam Raju. The accused have been charged with several offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and corruption.
The Delhi excise policy ‘scam’ came to light in 2017, when the Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) registered an FIR in the matter. The ACB had alleged that the excise department had caused a loss of revenue to the tune of Rs 100 crore to the Delhi government by manipulating the excise policy.
The case was later transferred to the ED, which conducted a thorough investigation and has now filed a charge sheet in the matter. The case is likely to be heard in court soon, and the accused are expected to face trial for their alleged involvement in the conspiracy.
The charge sheet has sent shockwaves through the political establishment in Delhi, with the AAP leadership vehemently denying the allegations. The case is expected to have significant political implications in the run-up to the Delhi assembly elections, which are scheduled to be held in 2025.