Delhi's Excise Policy Saga: Why the ED Probe Continues Despite CBI's Clean Chit to Kejriwal, Sisodia

The political landscape in Delhi has been buzzing once again, all thanks to the controversial excise policy that came into play, and then out of play, back in 2021-22. You see, there's been a significant development recently: the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has submitted a supplementary charge sheet where, quite notably, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his then-deputy, Manish Sisodia, haven't been named as accused. This has, understandably, led many to wonder if this saga is finally winding down. But hold on a minute; it's a bit more nuanced than that.

While it might feel like a major win for the Aam Aadmi Party leaders, it's crucial to understand what this "clean chit" from the CBI actually signifies. The agency, which was initially looking into allegations of corruption related to the policy's formulation and implementation, found no direct evidence linking Kejriwal or Sisodia to any "commission or kickback" based on their investigation. Their names did pop up in certain statements during the probe, but the CBI couldn't establish a concrete case against them as beneficiaries or conspirators in their specific corruption angle. Sisodia, of course, was arrested by the CBI back in February, based on different aspects of their investigation, but the lack of their names in this particular charge sheet is certainly a point of relief for them.

However, and this is the really important part, the story doesn't end there. Parallel to the CBI's corruption probe, another powerful agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has been running its own investigation. The ED isn't primarily concerned with the corruption itself, but rather with the money trail – specifically, the alleged "proceeds of crime." They're looking into potential money laundering, and their case is distinct from the CBI's. So, while the CBI might not have found direct grounds to accuse Kejriwal or Sisodia of corruption in this specific filing, the ED's money laundering probe marches on, focusing on a completely different legal framework.

The ED's allegations are quite serious. They claim that a "South Group" of liquor businesses and politicians paid kickbacks totalling around Rs 100 crore to AAP leaders, all to secure favorable treatment under the now-scrapped excise policy. They've alleged that Sisodia, in particular, played a central role, destroyed evidence, and that a portion of these alleged kickbacks was even used for the AAP's election campaign in Goa. Their investigation has already seen several arrests, including Sisodia himself, and they've filed multiple charge sheets. For the ED, the fact that the CBI didn't name certain individuals as accused in a corruption case doesn't invalidate their money laundering case, which focuses on tracking and seizing assets derived from alleged illegal activities.

Just to jog our memories, this whole saga began when Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena, back in July 2022, called for a CBI probe into the new excise policy. He pointed to alleged procedural lapses and "deliberate and gross" violations that supposedly benefited private liquor licensees at the expense of public exchequer. Following these accusations, the Delhi government decided to roll back the policy and reverted to the old excise regime. It was a rapid turnaround that certainly raised eyebrows.

So, where does that leave us? Well, the "clean chit" from the CBI for Kejriwal and Sisodia in this specific supplementary charge sheet is certainly a significant political talking point. But let's be absolutely clear: it does not mean the end of their legal troubles. The ED's investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is a formidable separate beast, and it continues to operate independently. For now, the legal battle over the Delhi Excise Policy is far from over, and all eyes remain on the ED as it delves deeper into the alleged money laundering aspects of this complex case.