The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has despatched a fourth summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to seem earlier than the central probe company on January 18, sources stated. The summons is expounded to the alleged Delhi excise coverage case, which entails costs of corruption and cash laundering within the liquor commerce.
This is the fourth time that the ED has summoned Kejriwal on this case. The Delhi CM has not complied with the earlier three summons, citing authorized and procedural points. He has additionally accused the ED of being biased and appearing on political motives.
The ED had first summoned Kejriwal on November 2, final yr, however he didn’t present up, claiming that the discover was “vague, motivated and unsustainable in law.” The ED then issued a second summons on December 18, asking him to hitch the investigation on December 21. Kejriwal once more skipped the summons, saying that he had not obtained any response from the ED to his queries on the character and scope of the investigation.
The ED issued a 3rd summons on December 22, directing Kejriwal to seem earlier than the company on January 3, this yr. Kejriwal as soon as once more refused to depose, calling the discover “illegal.” He additionally expressed his willingness to cooperate with the investigation, however provided that the ED clarified the idea and function of the summons.
In his written reply to the ED, the Delhi CM stated “As a premier investigating agency the non-disclosure and non-response approach adopted by you cannot sustain the test of law, equity or justice. Your obstinacy is tantamount to assuming the role of judge, jury and executioner at the same time which is not acceptable in our country governed by the rule of law.”
The ED has been probing the alleged Delhi liquor rip-off case since August 17, final yr, when it registered a case underneath the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) primarily based on a CBI FIR. The CBI had additionally summoned Kejriwal in April, final yr, in reference to the case. However, Kejriwal was not named as an accused within the CBI FIR.
The case pertains to the alleged irregularities within the framing and implementation of the Delhi’s new excise coverage, which was scrapped in February 2023, following allegations of foul play by the opposition events. The coverage had allowed non-public gamers to function liquor vends within the nationwide capital, allegedly resulting in lack of income and unlawful transactions.
The CBI had arrested Kejriwal’s deputy Manish Sisodia in February 2023, for his alleged position within the rip-off. Sisodia was accused of abusing his official place and favouring sure non-public corporations within the award of liquor contracts. He was later launched on bail.
