The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab finds itself gripped by apprehension following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scandal. Adding to the anxiety is the memory of a past incident when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the residence and office of AAP MLA and real estate developer Kulwant Singh in Mohali, alongside interrogating three officials from Punjab.
Demanding thorough investigations into AAP Punjab government’s excise policy, Sunil Jakhar, the Punjab unit chief of the BJP, called for scrutiny by both the ED and the Election Commission. Among those questioned by the ED previously were K A P Sinha, the then Finance Commissioner (Excise), along with Varun Roojam and Naresh Dubey, the Commissioner and Joint Commissioners, respectively, of the Excise and Taxation Department. These officials were integral to formulating Punjab’s excise policy in 2022. It’s noteworthy that individuals associated with two companies that obtained wholesale licenses (L1) for liquor sales in the state under this policy are implicated in the Delhi excise policy case.
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The ED also implicated Roojam and Dubey, alleging their presence at Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s residence during the formulation of Punjab’s policy. The agency conducted searches at their residences as well. Previously, the CBI sought approval from the state government to take action against these officials under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. However, there was no response from the government.
Presently, Sinha holds the position of Finance Commissioner (Development). There are concerns within the AAP government that these officials might turn witnesses, exposing politicians to potential ED scrutiny.
Reflecting on Kejriwal’s arrest, Jakhar emphasized the need to safeguard honest officials coerced into signing flawed policy documents. He accused the AAP of defrauding Punjab residents through the excise policy, targeting AAP MP Raghav Chadha, the party’s Punjab in-charge, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for allowing what he termed as the “plunder of the state.”
Jakhar also questioned Chadha’s overseas trip for medical treatment, suggesting sufficient healthcare facilities in India. Meanwhile, Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal echoed similar sentiments, urging action against those involved in replicating the Delhi liquor scam in Punjab.