In fresh trouble for Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena has sanctioned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute the former chief minister in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy scam.
The L-G’s decision, which comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls scheduled early next year, has come as a major setback to the Aam Aadmi Party which is seeking a third straight term in the capital state.
The party called Saxena’s approval for prosecution "false and misleading" and asked the central agency to show a copy of the sanction.
Kejriwal was granted an interim bail by the Supreme Court on July 12 in the money laundering case, the apex court released him on bail in the CBI case on September 13.
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Both the CBI and the ED alleged in their chargesheet that the Delhi government had committed irregularities and extended undue favours to licence holders while modifying the excise policy.
On Friday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, submitted in the Delhi High Court that a sanction had been obtained to prosecute Kejriwal.
Kejriwal sought quashing of all proceedings in the case.
The court posted the matter on January 30 at the request of Kejriwal's counsel after initially listing it for February 19, 2025.
Kejriwal’s plea contended his prosecution was bad in law as it was without mandatory sanctions under Section 197 CrPC.
According to Section 197(1) of the CrPC, a public servant, among others, not removable from his office save by or with the sanction of the government, is accused of any offence during the discharge of their official duty, no court shall take cognisance of such offence except with the previous sanction.