Arvind Kejriwal Skips ED Summons For Sixth Time In Delhi Liquor Policy Case, Says 'Matter In Court'

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has once again chosen to skip the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons, declining to appear for questioning in connection to the Delhi excise policy case. This marks the sixth occasion that Kejriwal has avoided the ED's summons.

The Aam Aadmi Party has called the ED's summons "illegal" and stated that the matter of their "validity" is currently under consideration by the court. The party has urged the ED to await the court's verdict instead of repeatedly issuing summons.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will not appear before ED today. ED summons are illegal. The matter of the validity of the ED summons is now in court. Instead of sending summons again and again, ED should wait for the court's decision: Aam Aadmi Party

(file pic) pic.twitter.com/8ixqav0Dbe

— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2024

Earlier, Kejriwal informed the court that he intended to appear before it regarding an application filed by the ED related to the excise policy. However, due to the ongoing budget session and floor test, he was unable to attend.

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“I wanted to come to court but this floor test came up suddenly. Our budget session is till the first week of March. You can give me a date for after that and I will appear,” said Kejriwal who appeared before the ACMM Divya Malhotra via video conferencing.

Acknowledging Kejriwal's request, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra scheduled the next hearing for March 16. 

Earlier on February 14, the federal agency sent a sixth summons to Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi liquor policy scam, asking him to appear before it at its headquarters on February 19. 

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating allegations of money laundering connected to the Delhi liquor excise policy. The case centers on accusations that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's revised alcohol sales strategy facilitated kickbacks from cartels, purportedly used to finance election expenses in various states, including Goa.

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Although Kejriwal has not been named in the case, two prominent AAP members, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, have been arrested. The AAP has continuously refuted the allegations, claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leveraging investigative agencies to target the party.