Kejriwal skips 8th ED summons, offers virtual appearance

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal once again did not attend the ED summons on March 4, 2024. This marked the eighth time he avoided the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) related to a money laundering case linked to the excise policy.

However, post the non-attendance, the AAP leader stated that he would engage with the probe agency through video conferences after March 12. Additionally, the Delhi CM is scheduled to appear before a city court on March 16, as the court has requested his personal presence in a complaint case lodged by the probe agency.
Kejriwal, in a press conference, said it was written in law that ED proceedings are like judicial proceedings.

“That means the agency is like a court. In a court, any party is allowed to be present through video conferencing.
If I am asking for video-conferencing, which is my right, I hope they will allow it,” he said.
The chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener also said he has no objection over a live streaming of his appearance before the agency if it so decides.
“This is not my demand. But, If ED wants this I have no objection,” he told reporters.
Kejriwal further stated that he maintains the ED summonses to him were “illegal” and yet was ready to appear before it through video-conferencing. “We have not done anything wrong or not trying to hide,” he said.

He also said the grounds cited by him led to the High Court quashing the ED’s notices in other cases. “If those were quashed, in this case also it’s invalid,” he claimed.