The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is gearing up to issue new summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the seventh time. This development comes after Kejriwal failed to appear before the probe agency for the sixth consecutive time on Monday. The chief minister has been repeatedly summoned by the ED over the past few months for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy.
Despite the ED’s efforts, Kejriwal has consistently skipped the summons, prompting the agency to approach the court for intervention. ED sources claim that a local court has found Kejriwal prima facie guilty of “disobeying” earlier notices, leading to the decision to issue a seventh summons.
Kejriwal’s refusal to appear before the ED for the sixth time was met with criticism from his party, which urged the agency to await the court’s decision instead of continually summoning the CM.
Earlier in February, a Delhi court granted Kejriwal exemption from appearing in person for the day in connection with the complaint filed by the ED. The court set the next hearing for March 16, with Kejriwal’s counsel assuring the court of his presence on that day.
According to ED sources, the agency lodged a complaint against Kejriwal under section 174 of the Indian Penal Code for deliberately disregarding the first three summons.
Kejriwal’s involvement has been highlighted in multiple charge sheets filed by the ED in the case. The agency alleges that the accused were in communication with him regarding the formulation of the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
So far, AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, along with the party’s communications in-charge Vijay Nair, have been arrested by the ED in connection with the case. The ED’s charge sheet asserts that the AAP utilized “proceeds of crime” amounting to approximately Rs 45 crore in its election campaign in Goa.
