New Delhi

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Saturday (Mar 30) appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in the Delhi excise policy case. The case is related to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped.

Advertisment

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders including former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, former health minister Satyendar Jain, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh are in jail in connection with the case. 

Also read | 'Hope everyone's rights are protected...': UN reacts to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest

Gahlot, who is also handling the cabinet's home and law departments, was seen entering the ED office around 11.30 am local time. Sources told the news agency PTI that Gahlot, 49, was asked to appear for questioning in the case and get his statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Advertisment

He is expected to be questioned over the formulation of the excise policy as he was part of the Group of Ministers (GoM), along with Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, on the preparation and implementation of the liquor scheme for 2021-22.

Also watch | Delhi CM's wife launches WhatsApp campaign to garner support

×

Advertisment

In its chargesheet, the central agency said that Gahlot handled a single SIM number but his IMEI (international mobile equipment identity) was changed thrice. The agency mentioned the 49-year-old minister's name in the chargesheet and in the context of Vijay Nair, the AAP communications in-charge arrested earlier in the case, saying Nair lived in the government bungalow allotted to Gahlot.

Describing this practice of allowing the use of a government residence to someone else by a public servant as a “criminal breach of trust”, the ED said it asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take action in the matter.

(With inputs from agencies)