In New Delhi, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned the capital’s Chief Executive, Arvind Kejriwal, on Thursday, amidst an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to the excise policy case. Official sources indicated that he must present himself before the authorities on February 26.
This marks the seventh occasion where the Chief Minister has been called in connection with this matter. Kejriwal, evading the ED’s inquiries since November of the preceding year, contends that these summonses hold no legal standing, a sentiment echoed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The agency, dissatisfied with the CM’s non-compliance, has taken the matter to court.
The seventh summons materialized following Kejriwal’s absence during the prior interrogations on February 19. The Chief Minister had earlier suggested that the agency should await court directives instead of persistently issuing summonses.
In response to the summons, Delhi Minister Atishi expressed dissatisfaction, deeming it once again an “illegal” directive towards the CM. “We have raised concerns about the unlawful summonses issued by the ED and have yet to receive any acknowledgment from the agency. The entire procedure appears illicit and seems to be a blatant effort to intimidate the AAP and Kejriwal. It evidently aims to settle scores over the Chandigarh mayoral election,” she remarked.
The agency had indicted AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and his associate Sarvesh Mishra in a chargesheet submitted last December. Allegedly, kickbacks amounting to Rs 45 crore, purportedly generated through the excise policy, found their way into AAP’s poll campaigning in Goa in 2022. The ED asserted that AAP leaders received bribes totaling Rs 100 crore concerning the policy.
Attributing the policy to Kejriwal’s ingenuity, the ED is anticipated to delve into this aspect during questioning, as per sources.
Six chargesheets have been filed by the agency in this case against 31 individuals, including former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and AAP MP Sanjay Singh. Sisodia and Singh find themselves incarcerated in Tihar jail currently after arrests.
The policy, conceptualized for the rejuvenation of the liquor industry and the imposition of a licensing fee for traders, met its demise following an inquiry into alleged irregularities directed by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.