Delhi excise policy: Arvind Kejriwal files fresh plea in HC, requests no coercive action against him
Delhi excise policy case : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has moved a fresh plea in the Delhi High Court, seeking no coercive action against him and challenging all summons issued to him by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case.
Division bench led by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait will hear the matter today morning.
ED has issued 9 summons to him in the Excise case till now. The summons were issued a day after a Delhi court granted bail to the Delhi Chief Minister in response to two complaints made by the ED against him for ignoring six of the previous eight summons in this case. The ED had petitioned the magistrate court to prosecute Kejriwal for failing to appear for the summonses issued in the matter.
The plea has also challenged the vires of several provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Yesterday during the hearing in his matter in Delhi HC, the bench questioned the lawyers representing Arvind Kejriwal, asking why Kejriwal didn't attend the Enforcement Directorate's inquiries. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, responding on Kejriwal's behalf, mentioned that other AAP leaders like Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh had been arrested by the agency, raising concerns that Kejriwal might face similar treatment. However, Kejriwal expressed readiness to cooperate if provided with protection.
Kejriwal filed a plea seeking the annulment of a specific section of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), arguing that it unfairly targets political parties, particularly ahead of the upcoming general elections. He claimed that the ED's actions, controlled by the ruling government, are politically motivated to silence opposition voices like his.
So far, the ED has detained AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, party communications chief Vijay Nair, and other liquor traders in this investigation. The agency apprehended K Kavitha, chief of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), last week. In its statement, the ED said that she was involved in a conspiracy with key AAP leaders like Kejriwal and Sisodia.
(With inputs from agencies)
-
