ED alleged that the Delhi chief minister intentionally disobeyed the summons.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has once again summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy. Kejriwal has been asked to appear before the central probe agency on Monday, February 19, 2024.
This is the sixth time that Delhi CM has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with Delhi liquor policy. Earlier, ED had summoned Kejriwal five times on February 2, January 18, January 3, December 21, and November 2. However, CM skipped all five summonses.
The sixth summons comes days after a Delhi court, acting on a complaint filed by the ED, asked Kejriwal to appear before it on February 17. The court noted that, prima facie, the AAP chief was “legally bound” to comply.
In its complaint, the ED alleged that the Delhi chief minister intentionally disobeyed the summons and kept on giving “lame excuses.” If a high-ranking public figure like him disobeyed the law, it would “set the wrong example for the common man, i.e., the Aam Aadmi.”
Kejriwal had earlier said that “the liquor scam case that was being talked about for the last two years was “fake,” and the probe agencies have so far failed to present any evidence of corruption.” Previously, Kejriwal had written a letter to the ED, terming the summonses “illegal and politically motivated.” He alleged they were aimed at preventing him from campaigning in elections.
On the other hand, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has filed a case regarding the ED summons given to him, and he has already been summoned to appear in the ED court on February 17, but now the ED has also summoned him for February 19.