THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Jan 13: In a money laundering investigation pertaining to anomalies in the Delhi excise policy 2021–22 case (liquor policy case), the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the fourth time, asking that he come forth on January 18 to cooperate in the investigation.
The third summons, which the Delhi CM skipped last week, is followed by the fourth one.
Kejriwal has avoided responding to summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) three times, on January 3, November 2, and December 22, deeming them as unlawful and driven by political motives.
In the case, the ED seeks to record Kejriwal’s statement regarding matters such as policy formulation, pre-finalization meetings, and bribery allegations.
Kejriwal called the third ED summons “illegal” and skipped it, stating that although he was willing to comply, the agency’s goal was to arrest him and prevent him from doing electoral campaigning.
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ED charges implicate Kejriwal’s involvement
The Central Bureau of Investigation’s First Information Report (FIR), alleges numerous irregularities in the development and execution of the Delhi excise policy (2021–22), serves as the foundation for the case against the head of the Aam Aadmi Party. The policy was rescinded in response to accusations of corruption.
The ED has stated that the AAP used bribes of Rs 45 crore obtained via the policy as part of their assembly elections campaign in Goa in 2022. The ED made this allegation in its sixth charge sheet, which was submitted on December 2, 2023, and named AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his aide Sarvesh Mishra.
In one of the six charge sheets filed in January 2023, it is mentioned that Kejriwal conveyed to businessman Sameer Mahendru that Vijay Nair, the former AAP communications in-charge, is someone he supports and trusts and advises Mahendru to place trust in him.
Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, two prominent AAP leaders, are already being held in judicial custody in connection with this issue. The CBI arrested Sisodia, the deputy chief minister of Delhi at the time, on February 26 after multiple rounds of interrogation. The ED arrested Singh, a member of the Rajya Sabha, on October 5.
