THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Feb 26: In relation to a money laundering investigation connected to the liquor policy case, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal skipped the seventh summons on Monday issued by the Enforcement Directorate.
AAP says case pending in court
The AAP stated that the case was “pending in court” and that a hearing was scheduled for March 16. It asked the Enforcement Directorate not to issue more summonses right now, but to wait for the court’s ruling.
The party further emphasized that the Narendra Modi-led government at the centre should refrain from exerting such pressure, affirming its commitment to remain within the INDIA Opposition coalition.
Previously on February 22, the ED issued its seventh summons to Kejriwal, requiring his presence for questioning regarding the Delhi liquor policy case on February 26th.
Kejriwal skipped earlier six ED summons calling them illegal
The Chief Minister of Delhi ignored the preceding six summonses, referring to them as “illegal”.
On February 19, Kejriwal skipped the sixth summons and said the investigation agency should wait since the case is currently before the court.
Arvind Kejriwal skipped ED summonses six times on November 2 and December 22 in 2023 and January 3, January 18, February 2 and February 18 deeming them as unlawful and driven by political motives.
Kejriwal called the ED summons “illegal” and skipped them, stating that although he was willing to comply, the agency’s goal was to arrest him and prevent him from doing electoral campaigning.
Kejriwal virtually appeared before Delhi court on Feb 17
Due to Kejriwal’s persistent refusal to comply with the summonses, the ED has filed a complaint against him with the Delhi court.
In response to an ED complaint about his purported failure to comply with its summons, Kejriwal appeared before the Rouse Avenue Court via video conference on February 17.
Kejriwal told the court during his virtual appearance that although he would have liked to attend in person, he was unable to do so because of the budget sessions and the confidence motion.
The court date of Kejriwal’s physical appearance was set for March 16, 2024, after Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra granted his request for an exemption on Saturday.
ED filed court complaint on Feb 3
After the Delhi Chief Minister ignored five summonses from the ED in the purported illegal liquor scam case, the ED had filed a complaint against him in Rouse Avenue Court on February 3.
The complaint was brought under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for failing to comply with an ED summons and Section 174 of the IPC for failing to appear in compliance with an order from a public servant.
Recently, the ED lodged a new complaint case citing violations of sections 190 (1)(a) 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), pertaining to failure to appear as required by Section 50 of the PMLA.
