Title: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Refuses to Appear Before Enforcement Directorate in Corruption Case
New Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has decided not to comply with the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate in relation to the New Delhi liquor policy corruption case. Kejriwal has labeled the summons as illegal, politically motivated, and invalid, urging the enforcement department to withdraw them.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party has been governing New Delhi. The liquor policy for the fiscal year 2021-2022 had been recently revised, but it garnered complaints of favoritism towards private companies and wholesalers. Allegations of significant financial fraud involving crores of rupees emerged as a result.
Deputy Governor VK Saxena subsequently ordered a CBI investigation into the matter. The Enforcement Department also registered a case and initiated an inquiry into the money fraud. Former deputy chief minister and excise department head, Manish Sisodia, was arrested in connection to the case.
As part of the investigations, the Enforcement Department summoned Arvind Kejriwal, the National Coordinator of Aam Aadmi Party and Chief Minister of New Delhi, to appear for questioning.
Despite being expected to present himself at the Enforcement Directorate office in New Delhi at 11:00 am yesterday, Kejriwal left his residence in the morning and headed to Madhya Pradesh. He participated in the assembly election campaign in Singrauli along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Kejriwal, refusing to attend the hearing, sent a letter to the Enforcement Directorate, stating his reasons for non-compliance. He highlighted the ambiguity of the summons, questioning whether he was called as a witness or suspect and the lack of clarity regarding his role as Chief Minister or Aam Aadmi Party’s National Coordinator. He deemed the summons to be politically motivated, illegal, and void before the law.
The BJP National Spokesperson, Sambit Bhadra, commented on the matter, stating that no investigative body, including the enforcement department, can summon an individual without valid grounds. He accused Kejriwal of evading trial, asserting that he is well aware of the facts surrounding the case.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders staged a protest near the Mahatma Gandhi memorial in New Delhi, demanding Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation as Chief Minister.
Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, a person summoned by the enforcement department for a hearing can only ignore it three times. Afterward, the department has the authority to request a non-bailable warrant from the court to ensure compliance.
In a related development, the enforcement department conducted raids yesterday at the residence and other premises of Raj Kumar Anand, the Labor Welfare Minister in the New Delhi Aam Aadmi Party government. The raid is believed to be connected to Anand’s alleged involvement in the liquor policy violation case.