Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has once again not appeared for questioning at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in relation to the Delhi excise policy case. This marks the third instance of non-compliance with ED summonses. Kejriwal, instead, sent a letter to the agency, citing various reasons for his absence.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emphasized that Kejriwal is willing to cooperate with the investigation but deems the ED’s notice as illegal. The party reiterated its stance that the ED’s intention is to arrest Kejriwal, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to impede his campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In the letter to the ED assistant director, Kejriwal pointed to the ongoing Rajya Sabha elections, Republic Day preparations, and the ED’s non-disclosure and non-response approach as factors influencing his decision not to appear for questioning.
The AAP questioned the timing of the notices, raising concerns about their proximity to the elections. Kejriwal had previously received summons in October and December, and each time, he raised objections, calling the inquiries politically motivated.
The chief minister’s letter expressed his commitment to cooperating with a fair and just inquiry but criticized the ED’s silence on his previous responses. Kejriwal accused the ED of adopting an opaque and arbitrary approach and assuming the roles of judge, jury, and executioner simultaneously.
While the legal implications of Kejriwal’s repeated non-compliance are yet to unfold, AAP leaders have expressed concerns about a potential raid on the chief minister’s residence and his subsequent arrest. Security arrangements have reportedly been made outside the ED’s headquarters in anticipation of developments.
The Delhi excise policy case involves several senior AAP leaders, including Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, and AAP communications in-charge Vijay Nair, who have already been arrested by the ED. The party claims that the case is baseless and alleges that the ED aims to arrest Kejriwal in a similar manner.
As the situation unfolds, political tensions are escalating, and the legal trajectory of the case remains uncertain.
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[…] Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal finds himself in legal turmoil as the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court has summoned him on February 17 in response to a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED has accused Kejriwal of repeatedly failing to comply with their summons in connection with the ongoing probe into the Delhi Liquor Excise policy 2021-22. Despite being summoned five times by the ED—on November 2, December 22, 2023, January 3, 2024, January 18, and F… […]