Delhi excise policy case: CBI names Arvind Kejriwal, five others in fourth supplementary chargesheet; court takes cognisance, extends CM’s custody till September 11 | Delhi News

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Tuesday took cognisance of the fourth supplementary chargesheet filed by CBI naming Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and five others—Durgesh Pathak, Amit Arora, Vinod Chauhan, Ashish Mathur, and P Sarath Reddy—in an alleged scam related to the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.
The cognisance was taken by the court of special judge Kaveri Baweja.The court issued summons to all six, including Kejriwal, to appear before the court on September 11. Meanwhile, the court also extended judicial custody of Kejriwal in the CBI case till September 11.
The chargesheet was filed by CBI on July 29.
On August 27, CBI told the same court it had evidence to prove that Kejriwal promised to pay Rs 90 lakh to each Aam Aadmi Party candidate in 40 constituencies for the 2021 Goa assembly elections.
“The entire money has been spent according to the wishes of Kejriwal, because it was sent to AAP funds,” special public prosecutor D P Singh, appearing for the CBI, said in the court.
The agency claimed Kejriwal was the “main proponent” of the polls and AAP communications in-charge Vijay Nair, who was appointed by the CM, negotiated the deal with the south group.
The court was hearing arguments for the consideration of the fourth supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI that names Kejriwal and five others—Durgesh Pathak, Amit Arora, Vinod Chauhan, Ashish Mathur, and P Sarath Reddy—in the alleged liquor scam.
The CBI told the court that there will be no further investigation and it is ready for trial.
The court on August 27 also extended Kejriwal’s judicial custody till September 3 in the case registered by the CBI.
CBI told the court that all the money was spent in the Goa assembly elections on the instructions of AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak, who was the polls in-charge. Election-related expenses, the agency submitted, were dealt with in cash.
According to CBI, Chauhan and Mathur were involved in the transfer of the money. Chauhan coordinated with BRS MLC K Kavitha’s personal assistant and was responsible for transferring Rs 25.5 crore from Delhi to Goa, it said.
Describing Chauhan as “a close associate” of Kejriwal, the agency said the examination of his digital device revealed chats indicating a close relationship between the two.
Mathur allegedly took the money on behalf of Chauhan and gave it to hawala couriers, the CBI said, adding that Arora was responsible for pressuring a liquor company to withdraw from Delhi.
Reddy gave Rs 14 crore to Kavitha through a sham land deal and also obtained five liquor vends in Delhi, the agency submitted.
The CBI also told the court that it has statements, WhatsApp chats, and other evidence in the chargesheet, which was filed on July 29.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 from his official residence in the liquor policy case.
On June 26, the CBI had placed him under arrest in the case inside the court.