Delhi excise scandal: ED likely to file another chargesheet soon

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will file "at least one more" supplementary prosecution complaint (equivalent of a chargesheet) in the Delhi excise scandal, people aware of the matter told ET.

It will elaborate on the alleged role of hawala operators in the alleged transfer of kickbacks from a South India-based group to functionaries of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the party's Goa assembly election campaign in 2022.

The federal agency had arrested an alleged Delhi-based cash courier named Vinod Chauhan earlier this month. The agency, in one of its previous charge sheets, had alleged that Chauhan received cash bags from associates of BRS leader and co-accused in the case K Kavitha, which were then allegedly transferred through hawala to AAP leaders in Goa.


The agency has alleged that it has recorded a statement of one of the staff members of Kavita that revealed that Chauhan had collected "two heavy bags containing cash" from the co-accused's office. ED has accused Chauhan of playing a pivotal role in transferring "proceeds of crime".

The federal agency, so far, has filed eight prosecution complaints (one original and seven supplementary) in the case. This would be the ninth complaint.

This means that the trial in the scandal involving Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and others will not commence until the agency concludes its investigation and files the "final" charge sheet.

The apex court, while rejecting Sisodia's bail plea last October, had recorded the assurance of the probe agencies that the trial in the case will be concluded within six to eight months. The top court had given Sisodia the liberty to approach the trial court for bail if there is a "protracted delay" in the commencement of trial.

Earlier this month, a local court had lambasted Sisodia and other accused for moving applications and making oral submissions as a "concerted effort" to delay the trial in the case. The trial court held that Sisodia's accusation that the prosecution was delaying the trial was unfounded.

Sisodia moved the Delhi High Court against the said order. The High Court last week reserved its order on his plea.

The ED last week filed its eighth complaint. It made AAP the first political party to be accused under anti-money laundering laws.