Excise Policy: Delhi HC seeks stand of Kejriwal, Sisiodia on CBI plea against discharge
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the stand of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others on a petition by the CBI challenging their discharge in the liquor policy case by the trial court.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma listed the CBI's petition for hearing on March 16.
The court said it would pass an order asking the trial court to defer proceedings to a later date in the connected money laundering case probed by the Enforcement Directorate.
On a request made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the court further indicated that it would stay the operation of the "prejudicial" remarks by the trial court on the CBI officials.
Mehta urged the court to decide the CBI's plea finally by fixing a time schedule for hearing.
ALSO READ: EC meets representatives of political parties in West Bengal; maximum two-phase polling sought
He contended that the trial court order discharging Kejriwal, Sisodia in excise policy case was perverse and "turned the criminal law on its head".
Excise policy case was one of the biggest scams and clear case of corruption, he alleged.
Asserting that the trial court passed an order of acquittal in favour of Kejriwal, Sisodia and others without a trial, Mehta contented that meticulous evidence was collected by the agency to show conspiracy and bribe for a manipulated liquor policy.
There is enough evidence against Kejriwal, Sisodia and other accused for framing for charges and the CBI's case was supported by the approvers and witnesses, he added.
On February 27, the trial court discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia and 21 others, pulling up the CBI by saying its case was wholly unable to survive judicial scrutiny and stood discredited in its entirety.
Among the 21 people given a clean chit in the case is Telangana Jagruthi president K Kavitha.
The CBI has been probing alleged corruption in the formulation and execution of the erstwhile AAP government's now-scrapped excise policy.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
SP has ended contract with I-PAC due to fund constraints: Akhilesh Yadav
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said his party has severed its association with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) due to a lack of funds.
He dismissed speculations that the termination of contract was because of recent election results.
Addressing a press conference here, Yadav said the party had engaged I-PAC for a brief period ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections but could not continue the arrangement.
"Yes, we had an association. They worked with us for a few months, but we are not able to continue because we do not have that kind of funding," he said.
The I-PAC is a political consultancy firm known for managing major election campaigns across the country.
Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has also been associated with the organisation in the past and has worked with multiple parties, including the BJP and the Congress.
In a lighter vein, Yadav took a swipe at the ecosystem of political consultancies. "We thought that if we have to work with a 'winning agency', then there are several big companies."
He said that some people suggested conducting surveys, hiring another firm, keeping a social media company, and even engaging agencies for negative campaigning against other parties.
"There are one or two more companies whose names are not yet known. I can get those for you as well," Yadav said.
Yadav rejected the suggestion that the decision to end the deal was influenced by recent election outcomes in states such as West Bengal.
"There is no such thing. Do not ask questions based on baseless reports. That is not true," he said.
"This is not the reason for ending the agreement. We simply do not have enough funds. If you (the media) give us funds, we can hire another company," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.
