Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal skips ED summons again in excise policy case

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not appear before the Directorate of Enforcement ED for questioning in connection with an excise policy case linked to money laundering the Aam Aadmi Party AAP sources said on MondayThe AAP called the ED summons illegal saying that the matter of the validity of the summons is now in the courtED itself has gone to court Instead of sending summons again and again ED should wait for the courts decision a party source saidOn February 2 Kejriwal skipped the EDs summons for the fifth time in connection with the money laundering probe related to irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 202122 caseKejriwal on February 17 appeared before the Rouse Avenue Court via video conferencing following a complaint by the ED over his alleged noncompliance with its summonsKejriwal while appearing virtually informed the court that he wanted to join the court proceedings physically but due to the confidence motion and budget sessions he was unable to attend physicallyAdditional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra allowed the exemption plea moved by Kejriwal for Saturday and fixed March 16 2024 for his physical appearance before the courtThe ED recently filed a fresh complaint case under sections 190 1a and 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 63 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA for nonattendance in compliance of Section 50 of PMLAAccording to the ED the agency wanted to record Kejriwals statement in the case on issues like the formulation of policy meetings held before it was finalised and allegations of briberyIn its sixth charge sheet filed in the case on December 2 2023 naming AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his aide Sarvesh Mishra the ED has claimed that the AAP used kickbacks worth Rs 45 crore generated via the policy as part of its assembly elections campaign in Goa in 2022The excise policy was aimed at revitalising the citys flagging liquor business and replacing a salesvolumebased regime with a licence fee for traders It promised swankier stores and a better buying experience The policy introduced discounts and offers on the purchase of liquor for the first time in DelhiTwo senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singhare already under judicial custody in the caseSisodia who was the then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister was arrested by the CBI on February 26 following several rounds of questioning On October 5 the ED arrested Singh who is a Rajya Sabha memberThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever