Days after Kejriwal’s arrest, ED questions Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot in excise policy case

The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday questioned Delhi minister Kailash Gehlot in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy scam. During the five-hour long questioning, the central agency is believed to have asked the Aam Aadmi Party leader about the procedures followed while drafting the policy.

"I was questioned for nearly 5.5 hours. I will come in for questioning again if the ED summons me," he told reporters while leaving the ED office after questioning.

Gehlot’s interrogation came days after the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The case pertains to the alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped.

Gehlot, the minister for transport, home and law in the Delhi government, was part of the Group of Ministers (GoM), along with former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and former urban development minister Satyendar Jain, on the preparation and implementation of the policy.

The ED has alleged that the excise policy was leaked to the "South Group" liquor lobby that included Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Kavitha. According to the agency, this group is alleged to have given Rs 100-crore kickbacks to the AAP and its leaders.

The central agency in its chargesheet has claimed that Gahlot handled a single SIM number but his IMEI (international mobile equipment identity) was changed thrice.

It has also mentioned that Vijay Nair, the AAP communications in-charge arrested earlier in the case, lived in the government bungalow allotted to Gahlot, who "ironically" lives in Najafgarh in southwest Delhi.