Overview

• The Union Home Ministry has approved the Enforcement Directorate's request to prosecute AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
• The case involves alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government's 2021-22 excise policy, which was later withdrawn.
• The ED has accused Kejriwal of being the mastermind behind the alleged ₹1,100 crore irregularities and claims ₹45 crore from the alleged bribes was used for AAP's Goa election campaign.
• Both Kejriwal and Sisodia, who were arrested last year and are currently out on bail, have denied the charges and accused the BJP of politically motivated harassment.
• The timing of the approval, ahead of Delhi's February 5 Assembly elections, is expected to intensify political tensions between the BJP and AAP.