CBI Alleges AAP Benefited from Illicit Funds in Excise Policy Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claims that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) benefited from illicit funds generated through a criminal conspiracy involving Delhi's Excise Policy. Arvind Kejriwal and his associates are implicated, with allegations that illegal funds were used for election expenses in Goa.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of benefiting from illicit funds generated via a criminal conspiracy tied to the Excise Policy case. According to the CBI, Arvind Kejriwal, as the National Convenor and Overall In-Charge of AAP, bears significant responsibility in this matter. In their supplementary charge sheet, the CBI indicates that Kejriwal was involved in the criminal conspiracy from the beginning regarding the formulation and implementation of Delhi's Excise Policy.

The CBI alleges that Kejriwal had a premeditated plan to privatize the Excise Policy, soliciting monetary support for AAP in March 2021 during the policy's formulation by a Group of Ministers led by co-accused Manish Sisodia. Additionally, Vijay Nair, AAP's Media and Communication head and Kejriwal's close associate, allegedly demanded illegal gratification from stakeholders in the Delhi Excise Business for favorable policy adjustments. The charge sheet claims that Nair, without formal authority, operated under Kejriwal's direction.

Further allegations from the CBI state that AAP's declaration of election expenditure for the Goa Assembly Elections 2022 is misleading. It is claimed that actual payments, including substantial cash payments to vendors, Assembly Managers, Booth In-Charges, and Volunteers, were not reported. The illicit funds from the Delhi Excise Policy were used to cover AAP's election expenses in Goa. Evidence presented shows that Durgesh Pathak managed these expenses, under whom Chanpreet Singh Rayat allegedly handled illicit money payments in Goa via hawala channels.

(With inputs from agencies.)