Delhi BJP Chief Hits Out at Kejriwal Over Excise Policy Scam

Delhi BJP leader Virendra Sachdeva criticizes Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's alleged involvement in the Delhi excise policy scam, citing parallels to Lalu Yadav's case. Sachdeva also implicates AAP leaders Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj. The court extended Kejriwal's custody while granting interim bail in a related case.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva targeted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday over his alleged involvement in the Delhi excise policy scam, drawing comparisons to Lalu Yadav's case. Sachdeva noted that Yadav, Kejriwal's new ally, also initially received interim bail but was eventually jailed after being proven guilty. He warned AAP leaders Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, asserting that Kejriwal, who is the main accused in the scam, has implicated them as well.

'Arvind Kejriwal's new ally Lalu Yadav also got interim bail but later he had to go to jail after being proven guilty. The decision on the scam and theft committed by Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy is still pending... Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj should be ready because Arvind Kejriwal, who is the main accused in the liquor scam, has also named them in the scam,' Sachdeva told ANI. On Friday, Rouse Avenue Court extended the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi excise policy case.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail in the Enforcement Directorate case related to the excise case. Special judge Kaveri Baweja extended the judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal till July 25. He was produced through video conferencing from Tihar Jail. The court directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to supply a copy of the supplementary charge sheet to the counsel of Kejriwal and the other accused.

National Secretary Pankaj Gupta and an official representative of the party appeared for the Aam Aadmi Party before the court. The accused, Vinod Chauhan, was also produced before the court.

Another accused, Ashish Mathur, was granted bail on a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh. He was charged sheeted without arrest by the ED. On July 9, the court took cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet filed against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. The court had also taken cognizance of the supplementary_charge sheet filed against Vinod Chauhan and Ashish Mathur.

The court had taken cognizance of the charge sheets and had issued production warrants for Arvind Kejriwal, Vinod Chauhan and AAP. Summons through the Investigating Officer (IO) were issued to Ashish Mathur. These are the seventh and eighth supplementary charge sheets in the money laundering case linked to the Delhi Excise policy. Enforcement Directorate had filed a supplementary prosecution complaint (charge sheet) against Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party on May 17. Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21. Another supplementary prosecution complaint was filed by the ED against Vinod Chauhan and Ashish Mathur on July 1.

(With inputs from agencies.)