NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued its eighth summons to Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, in connection with the excise policy money laundering case. Kejriwal, who leads the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), had disregarded the preceding seven summonses.
According to media reports, the agency has requested Arvind Kejriwal to present himself before them on March 4.
On Monday, Kejriwal disregarded the seventh summons, stating that he would comply with the ED’s directive only if mandated by the court. The ED has taken legal action against Kejriwal for failing to attend consecutive summonses over the past several months.
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In response to the seventh summons, the AAP asserted that the BJP-led central government aims to apply pressure on it, potentially compelling its withdrawal from the Congress-led INDIA alliance.
“The matter is in court and the next hearing is scheduled for March 16. Instead of sending these summonses every day, the ED should wait for the court’s order. We will not leave the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and the central government should not pressure us this way,” it had said.
Describing the summonses as unlawful and driven by political motives, Kejriwal has disregarded the agency’s calls on November 2 and December 22 of last year, as well as on January 3, January 18, February 2, and February 19.
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The previous week, the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi exempted Kejriwal from appearing in person regarding the ED’s case until March 16. Kejriwal cited his commitment to the Budget session of the Delhi Assembly as the reason for his inability to attend in person. Instead, he attended the court proceedings virtually.
Kejriwal alleged that the BJP sought to dissolve their alliance for the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, and Goa. AAP minister Saurabh Bharadwaj remarked that the ED should await the court’s decision.
AAP leader Atishi had said: “The CM did not approach the court, ED did. Why are they not waiting for the court’s order? It is clear that this is not about legality or illegality — they just want to harass us. If ED cared for legality, it would wait for the due process of law to unfold.”
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