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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) intensifies its probe into the Delhi excise policy case, with Bibhav Kumar, personal assistant to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, currently under questioning. Additionally, AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak has been summoned by the ED for interrogation on Monday, specifically regarding alleged cash payments during the Goa assembly elections.
People familiar with the matter reveal that Kumar is being questioned to provide clarifications on certain documents pertinent to the excise probe. The ED’s scrutiny delves into potential money laundering activities linked to the Delhi excise policy.
Pathak’s summons comes in the wake of his alleged involvement in cash transactions during the AAP’s Goa election campaign. According to sources, his name has surfaced in statements related to cash payments, particularly during the Goa assembly elections. Pathak is expected to appear at the ED headquarters for questioning in the afternoon.
ED alleges that a bribe amounting to ₹45 crore, routed through the hawala route from South Group, was utilized in the AAP’s Goa election campaign in 2021-22. Statements from various individuals, including Dinesh Arora and representatives from multiple companies involved in cash transactions, form part of the agency’s investigation.
ED, in its remand note during Kejriwal’s arrest last month, asserted that the Delhi Chief Minister exploited his position to commit money laundering offenses, benefiting the AAP. The agency defines AAP as a “company” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), holding Kejriwal responsible for the party’s conduct and activities.
As ED continues its probe into alleged financial irregularities surrounding the Delhi excise policy and the AAP’s election campaigns, the summons of Pathak and interrogation of Kumar mark significant developments in the ongoing investigation.
