GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 4th May. In the ongoing investigation into the Delhi excise policy-linked money-laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made another arrest, taking a man identified as Vinod Chauhan into custody. This marks the 18th arrest made by the ED in connection with the case, according to official sources.
Vinod Chauhan stands accused of facilitating the transfer of cash funds, allegedly sourced through kickbacks from the ‘South Group’, for the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) election campaign during the Goa Assembly polls.
Several prominent figures including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, K Kavitha (daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao), along with various liquor businessmen, have been apprehended by the federal agency in connection with this case.
The ED cited Vinod Chauhan’s purported involvement in the matter in an official document submitted to a court regarding K Kavitha’s arrest.
According to the agency, Chauhan allegedly received cash from various sources on multiple occasions and then transferred the funds through the Hawala route for AAP’s election campaign in Goa.
Previously, the ED had alleged that out of the ₹100 crore bribe money given to AAP by the ‘South Group’, a significant portion was utilized for the party’s Goa Assembly elections campaign.
The ‘South Group’, which includes individuals such as Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy and his son Raghav Magunta, along with Aurobindo Group promoter Sarath Reddy, allegedly had representatives handling transactions with AAP leaders in this case.
The excise case revolves around alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently annulled.
The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena, had recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities in the policy’s formulation and implementation. In response, the ED initiated an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
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