As the Delhi Assembly elections are inching closer, AAP’s INDI alliance partner, Congress, launched a scathing attack on the party in a press conference held today (January 23). In the press meeting organised by senior Congress leader Pawan Khera and Delhi Congress President Devendra Yadav, an audio clip was released allegedly of AAP MLA Sharad Chauhan talking about the Delhi Liquor Scam.
Khera alleged that the audio clip was a recording of a conversation between AAP’s sitting MLA from Narela, Sharad Chauhan, and an AAP worker. Khera said that in the audio, Chauhan is telling the other individual that he was sitting with Manish (AAP leader Manish Sisodia) when Nair (Vijay Nair, former AAP communications in-charge and a key accused in the Delhi liquor policy scam case) introduced the Liquor policy and a discussion took place.
ये आवाज नरेला के विधायक शरद चौहान की है।
— Congress (@INCIndia) January 23, 2025
ये किसी से बात करते हुए बता रहे हैं कि जब ये और मनीष सिसोदिया साथ बैठे थे, जब विजय नायर शराब पॉलिसी लेकर आया।
तब इन्होंने मनीष सिसोदिया को ऐसा करने से मना किया।
मनीष सिसोदिया ने जवाब दिया कि अगर ऐसा नहीं किया तो चुनाव लड़ने के पैसे… pic.twitter.com/at2phpB0kA
Khera further added that Chauhan can be heard saying in the audio that he warned Manish against doing it (the liquor policy) as this would lead to the mushrooming of liquor shops everywhere. But Manish questioned where else the funds for elections would come from.
“This is where the funds came from for the Gujarat and Goa elections. Now the funds are coming from Punjab. Earlier, they came from the liquor shops. Manish offered me to enter into a settlement with two companies. I had even chalked out a plan with Rajesh. However, I did not go ahead with it and was saved from being jailed. Else I too would have been in the jail,” the voice alleged to be of Chauhan can be heard saying in the clip.
Devendra Yadav said that the AAP government had made lofty promises to the people of Delhi including the promise to eradicate corruption and bring transparency but it failed to walk the talk. Yadav added that it is clear from the audio that the entire Delhi Liquor Excise Policy Scam was executed by the top leadership of the AAP.
Top AAP leaders are out on bail in relation to the scam
Several top Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including AAP national convenor and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh have been facing charges for embezzlement of crores of rupees in the Delhi Liquor Excise Policy Scam. They are currently out on bail.
Notably, Enforcement Directorate (ED) was granted permission by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to prosecute former Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia and former CM Arvind Kejriwal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).