The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ex-deputy Manish Sisodia under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This approval comes after Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena recommended action in connection with alleged irregularities in the 2021-22 excise policy. Kejriwal, who was arrested in March 2024 and later granted bail by the Supreme Court, continues to face legal battles, including an ongoing plea in the Delhi High Court challenging the charges against him.

The ED’s investigation into the case centers on financial irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy. The agency filed a prosecution complaint naming Kejriwal and sought permission to proceed with the case in December 2024. While the former Delhi CM resigned in September 2024 following his arrest, Sisodia was arrested earlier in February 2023 and granted bail in mid-2024 after the Supreme Court observed that the trial’s conclusion was far off.

Officials have cited Supreme Court judgments affirming that sanctions under the Criminal Procedure Code apply to PMLA cases, further strengthening ED’s ability to prosecute the case. This legal development could have significant implications for the Aam Aadmi Party, which is already grappling with a leadership crisis. As investigations progress, the political and legal ramifications for both leaders remain under scrutiny.