The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued another summons to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in relation to the liquor policy case. This marks the sixth such summons sent to him. Kejriwal has been asked to appear for questioning on February 19. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has not yet responded to this development.
History of Summons
Previously, a Delhi court had summoned Kejriwal for February 17 after the ED filed a complaint over his non-appearance to consecutive summons. Kejriwal has not attended questioning in the matter on five prior occasions, calling the summons “illegal” and “politically motivated”. He has also questioned the basis of the summons, as he has not been named as an accused in the case.
Delhi BJP’s Response
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has commented on the issue, stating that Kejriwal has not been able to obtain any relief on his plea against the ED summons. He expressed hope that Kejriwal will accept the sixth summons and cooperate in the investigation. Sachdeva warned that failure to cooperate would be a disrespect to the investigation and justice system.
ED’s Complaint
On February 3, after Kejriwal skipped the fifth summons, the ED filed a complaint before the court for not complying with the summons. The ED stated that if a high-ranking public functionary like Kejriwal disobeyed the law, it would set a wrong example for the common man. The agency also accused him of being “non-cooperative” in the investigation.
VIDEO | Here's what advocate Ramesh Gupta said on Delhi court granting exemption to CM Arvind Kejriwal from personal physical appearance for Saturday in case of evading ED summons.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 17, 2024
"Today, (Delhi CM) Arvind Kejriwal was supposed to appear in person to the summons issued to him.… pic.twitter.com/w88HHej76R
AAP’s Response
In response, the AAP stated that it was studying the order and would submit to the court why all of the ED’s summons were “illegal”. The party also mentioned that it would take necessary legal steps accordingly.
Previous Summons Skipped
Kejriwal was first summoned by the ED in October 2023 to appear on November 2, which he had not done citing governance-related work in Delhi and party campaigns in then poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Subsequent summons were skipped citing various reasons such as attending a Vipassana session, Rajya Sabha elections, Republic Day celebrations, and a pre-scheduled trip to Goa.
Conclusion
The repeated summoning of Arvind Kejriwal by the ED highlights the ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding the liquor policy case. Kejriwal’s responses and the AAP’s stance on the matter will likely shape the future course of this investigation.