
Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot faced a five-hour interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday regarding the revoked liquor policy that allegedly involved illicit transactions and led to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s detention by the ED. Gahlot, a member of the Group of Ministers responsible for formulating and implementing the liquor scheme, was questioned for the second time by the ED.
The ED’s focus on Gahlot stems from allegations related to AAP’s Vijay Nair residing in the minister’s government-allotted bungalow in Civil Lines during the policy’s formulation. Nair, AAP’s former communication in-charge, was purportedly staying near the Chief Minister’s residence, which officially belonged to Gahlot.
Addressing this issue, Gahlot clarified, “I never stayed at my government-allotted bungalow as my family preferred to remain in Vasant Kunj. I never shifted to Civil Lines and had informed the CBI about this. Today as well, I reiterated that I had no knowledge of Vijay Nair’s stay at my premises.” The ED had earlier labeled Nair’s presence at Gahlot’s bungalow as a “criminal breach of trust.”
Regarding the Goa election campaign scandal allegedly linked to the liquor scam, Gahlot asserted his non-involvement, stating, “I cannot comment as I was never part of the Goa election campaign planning.” He confirmed that he was not confronted with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during the interrogation.
The ED’s intensified scrutiny extends to AAP leaders in Punjab and Goa, as the agency’s investigation revealed a money trail from the southern cartel to Kejriwal, purportedly used in AAP’s Goa election campaign. The agency’s actions come amidst heightened scrutiny following Kejriwal’s arrest and aim to uncover the financial intricacies of the alleged scam.
Sources By Agencies