New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has once again summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the Delhi excise policy of 2021-22. This marks the eighth summons issued by the central enforcement agency in the money laundering probe.
Continued Non-Appearance
Despite previous summons, Arvind Kejriwal has consistently chosen not to appear before the ED for questioning on all seven prior occasions.
Kejriwal’s Response
Arvind Kejriwal has persistently labelled the ED’s summonses as “illegal and politically motivated.”
Purpose Of the Summons
The ED aims to record Kejriwal’s statement regarding various aspects of the excise policy case, including its formulation, pre-finalization meetings, and allegations of potential bribery.
Allegations Of Political Conspiracy
Kejriwal has accused the ED of orchestrating a political conspiracy against him, claiming that the agency’s true intention is to hinder his election campaigning by threatening arrest.
Delhi Excise Policy Case Details
The ED’s investigation stems from an FIR alleging numerous irregularities in both the creation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy (2021-22), leading to its subsequent withdrawal due to corruption allegations.
In its sixth charge sheet filed on December 2, 2023, the ED named AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his alleged associate Sarvesh Mishra, alleging that kickbacks amounting to Rs 45 crore generated through the policy were utilized for the AAP’s assembly election campaign in Goa in 2022.
Legal Ramifications
Senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are already facing legal consequences in the case, with Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26 and Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, arrested by the ED on October 5.