Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal skips fifth ED summons in excise policy case

New Delhi, February 2: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to miss the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons for the fifth consecutive time, continuing his avoidance in connection with the money laundering probe linked to irregularities in the Delhi excise policy for the year 2021-22. The recent summons follows Kejriwal's non-compliance with the fourth summons on January 18.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has described the summons as "unlawful" and declared Arvind Kejriwal's decision not to appear, asserting their commitment to abiding by lawful summonses. The party alleges that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda is to arrest Arvind Kejriwal and destabilise the Delhi government, vowing not to let this transpire.

Arvind Kejriwal has already skipped four previous ED summons, issued on January 18, January 3, November 2, and December 22, dismissing them as "illegal and politically motivated." The ED seeks Kejriwal's statement on matters related to the formulation of the Delhi excise policy, pre-implementation meetings, and allegations of bribery.

In response to skipping the fourth summons, Kejriwal asserted its illegality and expressed his readiness to cooperate, accusing the agency of intending to arrest him and impede his election campaigning. He stated, "All four notices sent to me (by the ED) are illegal and invalid in the eyes of the law. Whenever such general, non-specific notices were sent by the ED in the past, they were quashed and declared invalid by courts. These notices are being sent as part of a political conspiracy."

The excise policy case, rooted in a First Information Report (FIR), alleges numerous irregularities in the formation and execution of the Delhi excise policy (2021-22) by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The policy was retracted following corruption allegations.

The ED, in its sixth charge sheet filed on December 2, 2023, implicated AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his associate Sarvesh Mishra, claiming that the AAP utilised kickbacks amounting to Rs 45 crore from the policy for its Assembly elections campaign in Goa in 2022.

The excise policy aimed to revitalise the city's liquor business by introducing a license fee for traders, replacing a sales-volume-based regime. It also promised improved stores and a better buying experience, introducing discounts and offers on liquor purchases for the first time in Delhi.

Alleged irregularities in the policy prompted Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to order a probe, leading to the policy's cancellation. The AAP accused Saxena's predecessor, Anil Baijal, of undermining the policy with last-minute changes, resulting in lower-than-expected revenues.

Notably, two senior AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are already under judicial custody in the case. Sisodia, the former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, was arrested by the CBI on February 26, while Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, was arrested by the ED on October 5. These developments continue to unravel amidst political and legal complexities, impacting the landscape of Delhi's political scenario.

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