Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, prominent leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), face renewed legal challenges as the Union Home Ministry grants permission for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to proceed with their prosecution in a money laundering case. The charges relate to alleged irregularities in Delhi's now-defunct liquor policy. This decision, based on a recent Supreme Court ruling, eliminates the procedural barrier that had delayed the framing of charges against them.
The ED has alleged that Kejriwal orchestrated irregularities in the policy, which was scrapped amidst controversy. The leaders, who were arrested earlier in connection with the case, are currently out on bail and have dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. Kejriwal has accused the BJP of weaponizing investigative agencies to suppress opposition voices.
This development comes just weeks before the crucial Delhi elections on February 5. Both leaders are actively campaigning, with Kejriwal set to file his nomination for the New Delhi constituency. The BJP is expected to leverage this issue to escalate its criticism of the ruling AAP, potentially influencing voter sentiment.
The case gained momentum after the Supreme Court ruled in November that prosecuting public servants in such cases requires prior sanction, aligning ED’s requirements with those of the CBI. Following this, Kejriwal had unsuccessfully challenged the trial court's acknowledgment of the chargesheet against him.
As the political landscape in Delhi heats up, this legal battle adds a significant layer of complexity to AAP’s campaign strategy, testing its resilience in a high-stakes election.
