AAP Goa chief summoned by ED in money-laundering case

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Amit Palekar, the Goa unit chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), along with other party leaders from the coastal state for questioning in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy.

According to official sources, Palekar and the AAP leaders have been asked to appear at the ED's office in Panjim on Thursday.

Amit Palekar, who served as the AAP's chief ministerial candidate during the February 2022 Goa Assembly elections, recently stated that there was no evidence to support allegations of illicit money being funneled into the state. He reiterated that he and his party colleagues were prepared to cooperate with any investigation.

The ED's actions come following the arrest of AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the same case on March 21.

According to the ED's chargesheet, the AAP allegedly utilized "proceeds of crime" amounting to approximately Rs 45 crore in its Goa election campaign, out of the purported Rs 100 crore "bribe" injected by the "South Group," which allegedly involved Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha.

Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to appear before a Delhi court at the conclusion of his remand period on Thursday.