Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was called before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday for the sixth time in connection with a money laundering investigation about the Delhi excise policy case. On February 19, he is scheduled to appear before the ED.
Kejriwal has ignored each of the five summonses that the investigation agency had previously sent him.
Kejriwal’s Continued Absence Amidst ED Summons Escalates Tensions
The ED initially requested that the AAP supremo show up for questioning on November 2, 2023, in October. He had ignored the summons, citing work related to governance in Delhi prior to Diwali and party campaigns in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which were then headed for elections.
The CM had stated he needed to attend a Vipassana session in response to the second summons.
He also ignored the third summons, citing the Rajya Sabha elections, Republic Day celebrations, and the ED’s “non-disclosure” and “non-response” strategy.
When the fourth summons was issued, the AAP claimed that Kejriwal was in Goa for a prearranged event that was set for January 18–20.
Kejriwal disregarded the fifth summons on February 2. The agency’s actions have been denounced by the AAP as “unlawful” and “politically motivated.” Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest is part of PM Modi’s plan to overthrow the Delhi government. We won’t let this happen,” the party had declared in past declarations.
Kejriwal’s Continued Absence Amidst ED Summons Escalates Tensions
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had questioned the AAP chief in April of last year regarding the case, but the agency had not yet charged him.
Kejriwal ignored the fifth summons, so the ED went to court in Delhi with a complaint against him. Kejriwal was summoned by the court to appear on February 17.
The Delhi Chief Minister has referred to the ED’s request for Kejriwal’s deposition as “illegal” in the case pertaining to the AAP government’s since-canceled excise policy. He has disputed the summons, claiming he hasn’t been listed as an accused in the case.
Three senior AAP leaders have already been detained by the ED in connection with the case: former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, and AAP communications head Vijay Nair.
