Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal was ordered to appear before a court on Saturday, following two Enforcement Directorate (ED) allegations alleging that he ignored several summonses related to the Delhi Excise Policy case. The judge granted bail to Kejriwal.
The Rouse Avenue Court granted bail based on a Rs. 1 lakh personal bond and a Rs. 15,000 surety bond.
The leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was summoned to the Rouse Avenue Court today, as per the ED allegations, on the grounds that he disregarded the several summonses that the investigation agency had sent him.
The court declared in its ruling that “accused Arvind Kejriwal is admitted to bail, as the offense is bailable.”
The AAP’s legal director, Sanjeev Nasiar, said the ANI news agency, “The Chief Minister had been called by the court. When he was directed again after his previous video conference appearance, he stated that he would make a physical appearance.”
“He showed up today and turned in the bail money. “The bail was approved,” he continued.
BJP’s attack on Kejriwal
According to BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, Arvind Kejriwal needs to abide with the law.
“In the event that the ED files complaints, he has been granted bail on a ₹15,000 bail bond. The court has ordered him to observe the law and reply to the ED summons while he is out on bail. A individual who has sworn allegiance to the Constitution should obey the law,” Tiwari said.
AAP leader Reena Gupta said there is no evidence against Kejriwal.
“We have been saying from the start that this is a political vendetta & is a baseless case. No evidence has been found,” she said.
Kejriwal made a virtual appearance on February 17. Following the Enforcement Directorate’s second complaint, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate last Thursday summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal again for a court appearance on March 16.
Under Section 190 (1)(a) CrPC r/w Section 200 CrPC 1973 r/w Section 174 IPC, 1860 r/w Section 63 (4) of PMLA, 2002, Kejriwal was the subject of a second complaint for non-attendance in violation of Section 50 of the PMLA, 2002.
Allegations
As of right now, the Delhi excise policy case has six charge sheets filed. The AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his assistant Sarvesh Mishra were named by the ED in its sixth charge sheet, which also stated that the AAP utilized ₹45 crore in bribes obtained under the policy to support its campaign for the Goa assembly elections in 2022.
Manish Sisodia, the AAP leader, and Sanjay Singh are both incarcerated on comparable counts. The party asserts that Arvind Kejriwal cannot run for Lok Sabha elections until the Centre orders the ED to arrest him.