In a recent development from New Delhi, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has once again summoned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, marking the ninth summons in connection to the money laundering case associated with the now-defunct Delhi excise policy. The directive mandates his presence before the authorities on March 21. This summons follows closely after Kejriwal secured bail from the additional chief metropolitan magistrate at Rouse Avenue Court, averting arrest due to his failure to respond to prior summonses pertaining to the Delhi liquor policy money laundering affair.
Adding to the unfolding narrative, Senior AAP Leader and Delhi Minister Atishi revealed on Sunday that the Enforcement Directorate dispatched a fresh summons to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, this time regarding a perplexing case allegedly tied to the Delhi Jal Board, characterized by its enigmatic nature.
“At present, the specifics of this purported DJB (Delhi Jal Board) case remain shrouded in mystery. It appears to be a contingency stratagem aimed at apprehending Kejriwal by any means necessary, potentially impeding his participation in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,” Atishi asserted during a press briefing held locally.
Further elaborating, Atishi disclosed that two summonses, each compelling Kejriwal’s presence before the federal agency in the upcoming week, materialized promptly following the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll date on Saturday. These summonses are ostensibly linked to the excise policy case and the ambiguous DJB affair, respectively.
Accusing the BJP of leveraging governmental agencies such as the ED and CBI as partisan tools to suppress political adversaries, the AAP leader likened their tactics to those of hired “goons” in political showdowns. The Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation refrained from immediate comment on these allegations.
Underlining the intensifying legal scrutiny, the Enforcement Directorate has slated Chief Minister Kejriwal for questioning on March 18, specifically regarding the money laundering probe associated with purported irregularities within the DJB framework. This marks the second instance in which the 55-year-old politician, also serving as the Aam Aadmi Party’s national convenor, has been summoned under the anti-money laundering statute.
Additionally, Kejriwal finds himself served with a notice for interrogation in connection to the money laundering episode intertwined with the Delhi excise policy. Kejriwal’s non-compliance with eight prior summonses in this context has been justified on grounds of their alleged illegitimacy.
In a judicial turn of events on Saturday, a Delhi court extended bail to Kejriwal in response to two complaints filed by the agency concerning his evasion of summonses linked to this particular case.