ED informs Supreme Court: Arvind Kejriwal allegedly lodged in 7-star Goa hotel funded by accused

PTC News Desk: During the bail hearing of Arvind Kejriwal, the Enforcement Directorate made startling allegations, claiming that the Delhi Chief Minister stayed in a luxurious seven-star hotel in Goa during the state’s assembly elections, and the expenses were covered by one of the accused in the Delhi liquor policy case.

Representing the Enforcement Directorate in the Supreme Court, ASG SV Raju asserted that there was no evidence exonerating Kejriwal in the probe. Raju contended that Kejriwal’s stay at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Goa was funded by Chariot Enterprises, a key player in the Delhi liquor policy case, allegedly involved in the illicit diversion of funds towards AAP’s campaign in Goa.

According to Live Law, Raju stated in court that there was documented evidence proving the payment of Kejriwal’s hotel bill by Chariot Enterprises. The agency further alleged that Kejriwal had demanded a staggering Rs 100 crore in kickbacks from businessmen to shape a liquor policy favourable to their interests.

Initially, the focus of the investigation was not on Kejriwal. However, as the probe unfolded, his involvement allegedly became more apparent. Responding to questions from the bench, which included Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, the Enforcement Directorate faced scrutiny over the length of the investigation, with Justice Khanna expressing concern over the prolonged duration and the delayed focus on pertinent issues.

The Enforcement Directorate’s lawyer defended the timeline, attributing the pace of the investigation to the discretion of the investigating officers.