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New Delhi: In a significant move, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued the third summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Excise Policy case. Despite Kejriwal’s current absence due to Vipassana meditation, he has been directed to appear for questioning on January 3, 2024. Also, Delhi Court has rejected the bail plea of AAP MP Sanjay Singh related to the same case.
One cannot help but note the silence that veils the nuances of the matter. The ED, the law enforcement agency and economic intelligence unit responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting economic crime in India, has kept the reasons for the summons secret. This lack of disclosure, despite being routine in sensitive investigations, only adds to the intrigue surrounding the case.
It is not every day that a Chief Minister receives repeated summons from an organization like ED. The issuance of the third summons indicates that the ED is far from concluding its investigation and needs more from Kejriwal. The repeated calls are indicative of either the critical importance or layered complexity of the case under investigation.
Reacting to the latest summons, AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said that this seems less like a legal process and more like political posturing.
“Everyone knows that Hon’ble CM Arvind Kejriwal is in Vipasana. ED knows well that he can’t be served summons while he is without any communication during 10 days meditation. This summon appears more of a political posturing of Central Govt than a legal process (sic),” Mr Bharadwaj posted on X.
Everyone knows that Hon’ble CM Arvind Kejriwal is in Vipasana. ED knows well that he can’t be served summons while he is without any communication during 10 days meditation.
This summon appears more of a political posturing of Central Govt than a legal process.
— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) December 22, 2023
Despite environmental concerns, Delhi Education Minister Atishi reiterated the government’s dedication towards education during the convocation ceremony of Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University. He highlighted the allocation of 25% of the budget for the education sector, which shows the government’s commitment to promote learning environment.
Along with this, Delhi and its neighboring areas, including Noida and Gurgaon, are seeing a slight increase in COVID-19 cases. Genome sequencing is underway to identify the variants responsible for these new infections.
In legal news, the Delhi High Court has given time till March 31 to residents of Signature View Apartments to vacate the premises following a dispute with the Delhi Development Authority. Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has criticized the opposition Bharat Alliance and accused the central government of weakening democracy.
