Delhi excise policy case: Court grants ED time to respond to Kejriwal’s plea

New Delhi: A Delhi court has extended the deadline for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to respond to a plea filed by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, setting the next hearing for November 28.

Kejriwal approached the court alleging procedural lapses in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy. He claimed that the requisite sanction for his prosecution was not obtained and sought a copy of the sanction. In response, the ED requested additional time, prompting Special Judge Kaveri Baweja to adjourn the matter.

Kejriwal’s application referred to a recent Delhi High Court hearing, during which the ED reportedly stated that the necessary sanctions had been obtained at the time of filing the chargesheet.

The money laundering case stems from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe initiated after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena flagged alleged irregularities in the implementation of the excise policy.

Separately, Kejriwal had earlier petitioned the Delhi High Court to quash a trial court’s order to prosecute him, arguing that no sanction for his prosecution had been taken. On November 12, the high court sought the ED’s response to Kejriwal’s application but declined to stay the trial court proceedings.