Another Delhi minister questions in liquor policy case

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Saturday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after the probe agency summoned him for questioning in the liquor policy case.

The development came after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the probe agency on March 21 in the same case. Gahlot, who is an MLA from Najafgarh, was part of a panel that prepared the draft of the now-scrapped Delhi government's liquor policy for 2021-22.

ED sources say Kailash Gahlot has been asked to appear for questioning in the case and get his statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped.

According to the ED, the draft liquor policy was leaked to the 'South Group'. The probe agency claims that Gahlot allowed then AAP communication in-charge Vijay Nair to use his official residence while the liquor policy was being drafted.

Earlier, the ED alleged that Gahlot repeatedly changed his mobile numbers.

The ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have alleged that the Delhi government's liquor policy to grant licenses to liquor traders allowed cartelization and favored certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by AAP.