The Enforcement Directorate filed its chargesheet against CM Arvind Kejriwal and his AAP before a special court in the capital’s excise policy case, spelling out his alleged role in the money laundering case.
Though the agency did not disclose details of the charges slapped on Kejriwal, sources said he has been accused in his “personal capacity” as well as for his “vicarious role” in his capacity as AAP’s national convenor. It is the first time a political party has been charged in a money laundering case under PMLA.
The special court will examine the chargesheet, and the case against Kejriwal, his former deputy Manish Sisodia and AAP will move into the fast lane should it take cognisance of ED’s submissions.
The filing of the chargesheet came on a day the Supreme Court reserved its verdict in the case where Kejriwal has challenged the legality of his March 21 arrest by the investigating agency.
On May 10, the SC had granted him interim bail to campaign in the parliamentary elections.
This is the seventh supplementary chargesheet filed by ED in the liquor scam case in which at least 38 individuals and companies have been accused of involvement.
ED has invoked Section 70 of PMLA which deals with companies to make AAP an accused in the money laundering case.
This particular section of PMLA says “every person who, at the time the contravention was committed, was in charge of and was responsible to the company, for the conduct of the business of the company as well as the company, shall be deemed guilty of the contravention and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly”.
Kejriwal, being the national convenor and head of the party, has been held responsible for all irregularities of the party and for the alleged kickbacks received from the South Group and used for the party’s Goa election campaign.
