Excise Scam: ‘Kickbacks’ used in AAP Goa poll campaigns, says ED

New Delhi: The CBI and the Income Tax Department have corroborated the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) claim in various investigations that the alleged kickbacks of Rs 45 crore in the Delhi excise policy case were used by the AAP for the 2022 Goa election campaign.

This information has been obtained from the documents filed in court. In this case, the ED is also investigating the extensive network of hawala operators and ‘Angariya’.

The ED recently arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case and claimed that Kejriwal and his party could be prosecuted for money laundering. The ED has also recorded the statements of five Angadiya firm operators to establish the alleged bribe transaction of Rs 45 crore.

‘Angadiya’ refers to informal courier and bank services like Hawala that are specifically used by businesses in the diamond and jewelry sector to transfer cash and other valuables while avoiding the KYC-based formal banking route to evade government taxes and liability. The ED has claimed that the amount of Rs 45 crore is “proceeds of crime” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED has further claimed that this amount is part of the total bribe of Rs 100 crore given to the AAP by the ‘South Group’ of politicians and liquor barons. The agency has alleged that the money was given to gain dominance in Delhi’s liquor market.

According to the ED, the AAP had spent Rs 45 crore on the Goa election campaign. As per the details of the investigation shared by the ED before the special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the AAP had hired a company named Chariat Productions Media Private Limited to run its election campaign in Goa during 2021-22.