In a continued standoff between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has once again chosen not to appear before the investigative agency for the sixth consecutive summons. The AAP has staunchly defended Kejriwal’s decision, labeling the ED’s summonses as “illegal” and urging the agency to await the court’s decision.
The ongoing saga stems from a money laundering probe related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy for the year 2021-22. Despite multiple summonses, Kejriwal remains resolute in his stance, asserting that he will not comply with what his party deems as unjustified summons.
The latest development follows a court decision on Saturday granting an exemption to Kejriwal from appearing in person for the day. His counsel cited the ongoing Budget Session of the Delhi assembly, which commenced on February 15 and is scheduled to continue until the first week of March, as the reason for his absence.
Kejriwal has assured that he will appear before the court physically on the next scheduled hearing date, set for March 16. However, this marks the sixth time the Delhi chief minister has sidestepped the ED’s summons, further escalating tensions between the AAP and the investigative agency.
The ED’s repeated attempts to summon Kejriwal have been met with resistance from the AAP, who have consistently criticized the agency’s actions as unwarranted and unlawful. The party has called for the ED to respect due process and await the court’s verdict instead of persistently pursuing the chief minister.
The ED, on its part, maintains that it seeks to record Kejriwal’s statement regarding various aspects of the excise policy, including its formulation, pre-finalization meetings, and allegations of bribery. The agency’s efforts culminated in the filing of a sixth charge sheet on December 2, 2023, implicating AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his associate Sarvesh Mishra. The charge sheet alleges that the AAP utilized kickbacks amounting to ₹45 crore, allegedly generated through the policy, as part of its election campaign in Goa during the 2022 assembly elections.
The standoff between the AAP-led government and the ED underscores the broader political tensions and legal battles that have characterized Indian politics. As the situation unfolds, all eyes remain on the court’s forthcoming decisions and their implications for both Kejriwal and the AAP.
Sources By Agencies
