ED Summons Kejriwal’s PA Bibhav Kumar in Excise Policy Scam
In the latest development in the excise policy scam case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s personal assistant (PA), Bibhav Kumar, for questioning.
The case involves allegations of corruption and irregularities in the Delhi government’s excise policy between 2015 and 2016.
It should be noted that Raghav Magunta, the son of YSR Congress MP Magunta Srinivas Reddy, was arrested by the ED on February 11 in this case.
Before Magunta, the ED had detained businessman Gautam Malhotra of Punjab and one Rajesh Joshi, a supporter of Vijay Nair, the AAP’s in-charge of social media.
The ED has been investigating the case for several years now and has already questioned several officials, including the then Delhi Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Satyendar Jain, and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in the grant of liquor licenses by the Delhi government during the above-mentioned period.
The ED alleges that Kumar was instrumental in facilitating the grant of licenses to several firms and that he received kickbacks in return. The agency claims to have evidence to support its allegations and is likely to question Kumar about his role in the alleged scam.
The excise policy scam case is one of several cases in which the Delhi government and its officials have been embroiled in recent years.
The AAP government has been accused of several instances of corruption and maladministration, and its officials have been investigated by various agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED.
On the other hand, the AAP government has denied all allegations of corruption and has accused the central government of using its agencies to target its officials.
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- The party has also alleged that the central government is using these cases as a pretext to undermine the Delhi government’s authority and to interfere in its functioning.
- The excise policy scam case is likely to be a major issue in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, which are due to be held in 2023.
- The AAP is expected to use the case to galvanize its base and to portray itself as a victim of the central government’s machinations.
- The BJP, on the other hand, is likely to use the case to highlight the alleged corruption and maladministration of the AAP government.
In conclusion, the ED summons to Kejriwal’s PA in the excise policy scam case is a significant development and is likely to have political repercussions in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections.
The case underscores the need for transparency and accountability in government decision-making and highlights the importance of independent and impartial investigations into allegations of corruption and maladministration.
