Arvind Kejriwal Skips 7th ED Summons In Excise Policy Case, AAP Calls For Court Decision

The seventh summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking to question Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in connection with the money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22, was skipped by him, on Monday.

It has been asserted by AAP that the probe agency should exercise patience and await a court order instead of persistently issuing summons to Kejriwal.

Arvind Kejriwal Skips 7th ED Summons

The latest summons to Kejriwal by the ED, asking him to appear before it on February 26, was issued after he had continued to skip interrogation since November 2 last year when he was first asked to depose before the probe agency but did not. Allegations were made that the notice was "vague, motivated and unsustainable in law," as reported by Hindustan Times.

The second summon was issued on December 18, the third on January 3, the fourth on January 18, the fifth on February 2, and the sixth on February 19. However, all the summons were skipped by the Delhi CM, terming them as "illegal," and a request was made to the ED for their withdrawal. Meanwhile, a complaint against Kejriwal for "disobeying" its summons in this case was also filed by the probe agency.

Here's what we know about the Delhi Excise Policy case:

• The excise policy in 2021-22 for Delhi, aimed at revitalizing the city's liquor business by replacing the sales-volume-based regime with a trader license fee, and promising improved stores, was initiated by the Delhi government.
• However, the policy was scrapped after a CBI probe was sought by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, alleging irregularities.
• According to the ED, kickbacks amounting to ₹100 crore were received by the Kejriwal-led AAP to finalize the excise policy.
• It was also alleged that a significant portion of this money was utilized by the party for its election campaign in Goa.
• In the ongoing investigation, top AAP leaders - former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh - have been arrested by the ED.