• Source:JND
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In a setback to AAP's convenor Arvind Kejriwal ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly Elections 2025, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has given his nod to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute the former Delhi CM in connection with the excise policy case.

This came 15 days after the central agency sought permission for sanction of prosecution against Arvind Kejriwal following months of investigations into the Delhi government's excise policy.

Reacting to the same, AAP leader Manish Sisodia alleged that it was a 'false' and 'misleading' news. "If LG Binay Saxena has given permission to prosecute Arvind Kejriwal, then why is ED not showing the copy of that permission? It is clear that this news is false and misleading. Stop making empty promises to divert attention from the issue of insult to Baba Saheb and show where is the sanction given to ED to prosecute?," wrote Sisodia on X.

AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar wrote on X, "LG Saxena has not given any approval to ED to prosecute Kejriwal. This is false news. If he has given approval to ED then show the copy of it."

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Saurabh Bhardwaj, Sanjay Sanjay Singh Refute Claims

Delhi Health Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj too refuted all such claims and said that he was "shocked".

"I am shocked...don't they have the basic knowledge that prosecution sanction is required to prosecute a chief minister or a minister? They are saying that today they have given sanction to prosecute (Arvind Kejriwal), what was the BJP doing for the last two years? If they did not have permission to prosecute (Arvind Kejriwal), what were they doing? We have information that there is no prosecution sanction today also. This is part of a conspiracy being pushed for political reasons," Bhardwaj told ANI.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh also rejected the reports of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal set to be prosecuted by the ED in connection with the excise policy case, saying that Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena should make the letter public.

"This fake news has been circulating since the morning. I don't know what is the source of this information. If Delhi LG has given any sanction, then he should make it public. Where is that letter of the sanction? If the ED (Enforcement Directorate) has been given the nod to prosecute (Kejriwal), the LG should show the letter. It is important to have evidence before running such baseless news. Delhi LG has given no such letter," Singh told ANI.

Arvind Kejriwal Out On Bail

Arvind Kejriwal is currently out on bail in both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases related to the now-scrapped excise policy.

Recently, a notice was issued against a plea by Kejriwal and Sisodia by Delhi High Court

Delhi High Court recently issued a notice against Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia's plea challenging the trial court's decision to take cognisance of the ED's chargesheet against them in the alleged excise policy scam.

According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Excise Policy was deliberately designed with loopholes to benefit AAP leaders and foster cartel formations. The ED accused AAP leaders of receiving kickbacks from liquor businesses in exchange for preferential treatment, including discounts, license fee waivers, and relief during the Covid-19 disruptions.

(With inputs from agency)