Kejriwal skips ED summons again in excise policy case

Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday skipped the sixth summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), seeking to question him in connection with the agency's investigation into a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

- Alok KN Mishra and Neeraj Chauhan

Talking to reporters on the Delhi assembly premises, Kejriwal said, "We are giving them (ED) lawful replies. Since ED has already moved the court and the matter is now sub-judice, ED should wait for the court's judgment before issuing fresh summons." 

While ED said that it will issue fresh summons to the AAP leader, a senior AAP leader, who did not want to be named, termed the agency's summons illegal. "The ED summons are illegal. The matter of validity of ED summons is now in court. ED itself went to court. Instead of sending summons again and again, ED should wait for the court's decision."

ED moved the Rouse Avenue court on February 3 with a complaint over Kejriwal repeatedly skipping its summons.

"We filed a complaint u/s 174 of IPC (Indian Penal Code) against Arvind Kejriwal for intentionally disobeying the first three summons issued to him. The court has taken the cognisance of the same which means that the court has prima facie accepted that Kejriwal has done an offence for which he is liable to be prosecuted," said a senior ED official, who asked not to be named.