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New Delhi: On Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) asking it to withdraw the summons sent to him, summoning him for questioning in the excise policy scam case, claiming it was “illegal and politically motivated”. The ED has summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. The probe agency will record his statement once he deposes at the probe agency’s Delhi office at 11 am.
The Delhi Chief Minister has been issued the summons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This is the first time that he has been summoned by the ED. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has remained tight-lipped about whether the chief minister will appear before the ED or not.
The Delhi Chief Minister’s Office said that in reply to the ED notice, Mr. Kejriwal has termed it as “illegal and politically motivated” and aimed at preventing him from campaigning in the poll-bound states. Notice was sent to ensure that I am unable to go for election campaigning in four states. ED should withdraw the notice immediately,” he added.
Mr. Kejriwal also alleged that the notice was sent to him at the behest of the BJP. After being asked around 56 questions by the CBI in April regarding the liquor scam, Kejriwal had described the entire matter as “fabricated” and an attempt to destabilize the AAP.
Meanwhile, In anticipation of protests by the AAP workers, multiple layers of barricades have been put up at the ED office on the Tughlaq Road. An official said that a large number of police and paramilitary personnel have also been deployed. This is the first time that he has been summoned by the ED. In its chargesheet submitted in the case, the Enforcement Directorate mentioned Kejriwal’s name several times and claimed that the accused were in touch with him about the Delhi Excise Policy 2021–2022.
