Home Ministry Gives Nod To Prosecute Arvind Kejriwal (image: x.com/ArvindKejriwal/)

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given approval to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute the AAP supremo and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy case. As Assembly elections are around the corner, it will add new trouble to the chief and the party. The Home Minister’s decision follows Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena’s nod to prosecute Kejriwal in the case.

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This move comes months after a Supreme Court ruling in November claimed that the financial probe agency would need prior sanction like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute public servants. The CBI got the sanction for the same in August last year against former chief minister in its parallel corruption case in connection with the excise policy.

When the ED stated that Kejriwal was the mastermind of alleged irregularities in the excise policy case, the formulation of charges was pending in a Delhi court since it did not have the clearance. The new development has now removed that barrier.

As per the reports, Kejriwal and Sisodia will be prosecuted under  the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for alleged money laundering connected to the case,

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Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the ED and on April 9, he challenged the order of the Delhi High Court which upheld his arrest in the case. On September 13, 2024, the apex court granted bail to Kejriwal in the liquor case.

Currently, Kejriwal and Sisodia are now campaigning for the assembly election in the national capital. Delhi will go to polls on February 5 and the counting of the votes will take place on February 8.