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NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has refused to attend a third round of questioning in the money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.
Despite pledging cooperation with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe, Kejriwal sent his response via WhatsApp, asserting that the summons were illegal. The ED will consult with legal experts on the next course of action.
FLASH : Arvind Kejriwal declines #ED probe, sends response: AAP states readiness to cooperate, deems ED notice unlawful. Alleges intention to arrest Kejriwal and disrupt election campaign.
“Why issue a notice right before the elections,” said AAP.
Reports : @iAtulkrishan1
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) January 3, 2024
The ED wants to question Kejriwal regarding the formulation of the excise policy, pre-finalisation meetings, and bribery allegations. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claims that the intention behind the notice is to arrest Kejriwal and hinder his 2024 national election campaign.
“Why has the notice been sent before the elections?” questioned an AAP functionary. Kejriwal had previously ignored two summons, labelling them as “illegal and politically motivated.” In his December 22 response, he criticised the summons, stating that it did not comply with the law and suggested a motive to harass him.
The ED alleges that the AAP received kickbacks of Rs 100 crores to finalise the excise policy, with a portion used in the Goa election campaign. The AAP denies the charges, calling it a conspiracy by the BJP. AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are already in jail in this case.
BJP lawmaker Ramvir Singh Bidhuri urged Kejriwal to respect the law and participate in the investigation, emphasising that ignoring notices raises questions about his credibility. The ED has approached the court to investigate AAP as a beneficiary of the “proceeds of crime.”
The AAP continues to seek public feedback on whether Kejriwal should resign if arrested or continue to govern from jail. The party maintains that the case is a “witch-hunt” orchestrated by the centr government.
In one charge sheet, the ED claimed that the excise policy was Kejriwal’s “brainchild.” Kejriwal has been implicated in alleged meetings, commissions, and the entry of political players and businesspeople into Delhi’s liquor business.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the excise policy aimed to revitalise Delhi’s liquor business by replacing the sales-volume-based regime with a license fee.
The policy promised improved stores and buying experiences, introducing discounts and offers for the first time. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena ordered a probe into alleged irregularities, leading to the policy’s cancellation. The AAP accused Saxena’s predecessor, Anil Baijal, of sabotaging the policy with last-minute change
