NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has rebuffed the Enforcement Directorateโs summons, deeming them โillegalโ and driven by political motivations. Responding to the summons related to the Delhi excise policy case on Thursday, Kejriwal expressed readiness to comply with every legal summons but also urged the central agency to withdraw the summons, emphasising his commitment to transparency and honesty.
โI am ready to comply with every legal summons.โ said Kejriwal however, he further added, โThis summons by the ED is as illegal as the previous one. ED should withdraw this summon as it is politically motivated. I have lived my life with honesty and transparency. I have nothing to hide,โ Kejriwal asserted.
FLASH: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal responds to ED summons, expressing readiness to comply with legal procedures. Calls the summons โillegalโ and โpolitically motivated.โ
โI have lived my life with honesty and transparency โ, said Delhi CM.
Reports: @iAtulKrishan1#Kejriwalโฆ pic.twitter.com/rhYHdNRQ8X
โ The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 21, 2023
The Chief Minister, who had recently attended the Opposition INDIA alliance meeting, left for a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat a day after the summons. The Aam Aadmi PartyEmphasizing is expected to submit a written response to the investigation agency later on Thursday.
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The AAP on Tuesday questioned the timing of the summons, saying the partyโs lawyers are studying the notice and โlegally correctโ steps will be taken.
They said Kejriwalโs Vipassana session was โpre-scheduledโ. AAP MP Raghav Chadha highlighted that the information about Kejriwalโs meditation session was public and routine, emphasising that the Chief Minister regularly attends such pre-announced plans.
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Chadha accused the BJP of attempting to weaken Kejriwal, asserting, โIf Satyendra Jain, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh join BJP, they will welcome them with drums and get the cases closed.โ Sisodia and Singh faced arrests in the case, while Jain is on interim bail until January 8, 2024.
The ED had summoned Kejriwal for questioning in the excise policy-linked money laundering case. In his response, Kejriwal reiterated his willingness to comply with legal summons but contested the legality and motives behind the issued summons.
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Reports: @iAtulkrishan1#ArvindKejriwal #AAP #ED pic.twitter.com/WmHuRL9ExGโ The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 21, 2023
This development follows the Chief Ministerโs earlier defiance of an ED summon on November 2, alleging it to be illegal and politically motivated. Earlier, the CBI had questioned him in April regarding the Delhi Liquor Policy case.
