Kejriwal skips ED summons, claims 'political conspiracy'

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday skipped summons from the Enforcement Directorate, calling them illegal, and alleging they were part of a conspiracy to stop him from campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

- Alok KN Mishra

Later in the afternoon, he left for Goa, where he is assessing the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP's) preparedness in the state for the general elections.

ED had asked Kejriwal, who is also the AAP national convenor, to appear before it in connection with its money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in Delhi's 2021-22 excise policy. This was the fourth time Kejriwal skipped summons by ED - he previously failed to appear before the agency on November 2, on December 22, and on January 3.

Kejriwal and his party have repeatedly objected to the summons saying it is not clear whether he was asked to appear as a witness or suspect; as chief minister or as AAP chief; and that the agency has not made available any details of its line of questioning.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, accused Kejriwal of "evasive behaviour".