Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday skipped the seventh summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), seeking to question him in the money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has emphasised that the agency should await the court order instead of repeatedly issuing summonses.
This marks the seventh instance where Kejriwal has chosen to forego the ED summons. Despite the agency’s issuance of the seventh summons to the chief minister last week for questioning, Kejriwal has consistently opted out, branding the summonses as “illegal.” He has previously communicated with the ED, urging the withdrawal of these summonses.
In an official statement, the AAP declared that the chief minister would abstain from appearing before the ED. The matter regarding the validity of ED summons is scheduled for a hearing on March 16 in a Delhi court. The AAP urges the agency to await the court’s decision rather than persisting with repeated summonses.
Earlier, the probe agency filed a complaint against Kejriwal for intentionally disobeying the summons issued to him. A local court has prima facie held the AAP convenor guilty of “disobeying” the earlier notices issued to him in the excise policy case, warranting the seventh summons.
However, last week, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court granted him an exemption from appearing for the day in connection with the complaint filed by the ED for disobeying its summons in connection with the liquor policy case. The court posted the matter for March 16, and Kejriwal’s counsel assured the court of his physical appearance that day.
On the other hand, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that Arvind Kejriwal is avoiding appearing before the Enforcement Directorate by making a mockery of its summons.