Arvind Kejriwal Responds to ED Summons in Delhi Excise Policy Case, Ready to Answer Queries After March 12

Arvind Kejriwal Responds to ED Summons in Delhi Excise Policy Case, Ready to Answer Queries After March 12

A news agency reported on Monday, citing Aam Aadmi Party sources, that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has responded to the Enforcement Directorate’s summons, indicating that he was prepared to respond to its questions via video conference in the now-deleted Delhi excise policy issue after March 12. Arvind Kejriwal has so far refused to respond to the eight Enforcement Directorate summonses, claiming they are unlawful and requesting that the agency hold off while the case is pending in court. According to the sources, Arvind Kejriwal restated that the summonses are “illegal,” but he was prepared to respond to the investigation agency’s inquiries. On March 16, the chief minister of Delhi must also appear before a city court. In a complaint case brought by the investigation agency for not responding to its summonses, the court has requested that he appear in person.

ED summonses Arvind Kejriwal

In a money laundering investigation about anomalies in the Delhi excise policy 2021–22 case, the Enforcement Department (ED) sent Arvind Kejriwal an eighth summons on February 27. The ED requested that he appear in court on March 4. After missing the seventh summons on February 26, the AAP national convenor received a new one. Previous ED summonses from February 26, February 19, February 2, January 18, January 3, November 2, and December 22 have been ignored by Arvind Kejriwal, who has described them as “illegal and politically motivated.”

Why did the ED summon Arvind Kejriwal?

Arvind Kejriwal’s comment on matters like the creation of the excise policy, discussions that took place before its finalization, and accusations of bribery is something that the Enforcement Department (ED) wishes to record. The AAP called the ED’s seventh summons “illegal” in a statement, claiming that the probe agency has already petitioned the court about the subject, thus the ED should cease issuing summonses and await the court’s ruling.

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ED moved the Delhi court against Arvind Kejriwal.

The ED filed a lawsuit against Arvind Kejriwal on February 3, one day after he ignored the fifth summons the agency had given for “non-compliance with the summons.”.

What is the Delhi excise policy case?

The Delhi excise policy lawsuit is based on a formal complaint that was sent to the FBI, alleging some anomalies in the policy’s creation and implementation (2021–2022). Allegations of corruption led to the policy’s revocation. The Enforcement Department (ED) has stated in its sixth charge sheet, which was submitted on December 2, 2023, that the AAP utilized ₹45 crore in bribes obtained through the policy to support its campaign for the Goa assembly elections in 2022. The charge sheet names Sanjay Singh, the leader of the AAP, and his assistant, Sarvesh Mishra. The excise policy aimed to replace a sales-volume-based system with a license charge for dealers and revitalize the city’s failing liquor economy. It promised greater shopping experiences and swankier boutiques. For the first time, the policy offered discounts and promotions on the purchase of alcoholic beverages in Delhi. The strategy was abandoned as a result of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena’s decision to launch an investigation into purported anomalies in the regime. According to the AAP, Saxena’s predecessor, Anil Baijal, hampered the transition with a few hurried changes that resulted in lower-than-expected revenue.