New Delhi, Jan 04 (The Street Press India) – The Enforcement Directorate is checking the response from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal about why he didn’t come for questioning. They might send him another summons, which would be the fourth one, to ask him about the alleged excise policy case. This information comes from official sources on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the 55-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor declined to appear before the ED for the third time. He stated that the agency’s “non-disclosure and non-response approach” doesn’t align with the principles of law, equity, or justice. According to him, the ED’s persistence in this matter resembles taking on the roles of judge, jury, and executioner.
ED is reviewing the five-page response sent by Kejriwal on Wednesday, and there’s a possibility of dismissing his claim that the summons are illegal. According to sources, the agency might send him a fourth summons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Earlier, he was summoned on November 2 and December 21 in 2023, and then again on January 3 this year. AAP leader Atishi and other party members suggested on ‘X’ that there might be a possibility of an ED raid at Kejriwal’s residence and a potential arrest on Wednesday night.
There are allegations that the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, granting licenses to liquor traders, led to cartelization and favored specific dealers who allegedly paid bribes. The AAP has consistently denied these accusations.
The excise policy was later canceled, and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi suggested a CBI investigation. Subsequently, the ED initiated a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
