Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has escalated its pursuit of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, issuing a fourth summons for questioning in the alleged Delhi excise policy case. Despite refusals and legal debates, Kejriwal has been asked to appear before the ED on January 18, intensifying the scrutiny around the Delhi liquor scam. This move follows Kejriwal’s refusal to depose before the ED for the third time on January 3.
The ED had previously issued a third summons to CM Kejriwal on December 22, last year, related to the Delhi liquor scam case, setting the appearance date for January 3. The ongoing summons saga began when the central agency first called Arvind Kejriwal on November 2. However, he declined to appear, alleging that the notice was “vague, motivated, and unsustainable in law.”
In his written response to the ED after skipping the third summons, Kejriwal expressed willingness to cooperate but declined the appearance date, deeming the notice “illegal.” He also raised concerns about the agency’s non-response to his earlier queries on the nature of the investigation, challenging its non-disclosure approach.
Arvind Kejriwal further criticized the ED, stating, “Your obstinacy is tantamount to assuming the role of judge, jury, and executioner at the same time, which is not acceptable in our country governed by the rule of law.”
This latest summons adds to Kejriwal’s legal challenges, as he was also summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in April, although not named as an accused in the FIR filed in August of the previous year.
The excise policy case gained attention in February 2023 when Arvind Kejriwal’s deputy, Manish Sisodia, was arrested by the CBI for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of Delhi’s now-scrapped excise policy. The policy faced controversy and was eventually withdrawn amid accusations of misconduct by opposition parties. The unfolding legal developments continue to cast a shadow over the political landscape in Delhi.
