KEJRIWAL SKIPS ED SUMMONS, CALLS IT 'POLITICALLY DRIVEN'

CM urges ED to withdraw summons; ED expected to reissue summons.

- ASHISH SINHA & RAJAT RAKESH TANDON

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal skipped from appearing before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday for questioning in connection with an excise policy-related case. He penned a letter to the agency, insisting on the withdrawal of the summoning notice, asserting its alleged “illegality.” Instead of going to the ED office, Kejriwal went to Madhya Pradesh for a political roadshow.

According to insights from Legally Speaking sources, the Enforcement Directorate is now anticipated to reissue summons to him. In fact, the ED can issue two more summons, and if Kejriwal skips those, the agency has the option for issuing a non-bailable warrant. On the other hand, Kejriwal can approach the court for a pre-arrest bail. Kejriwal contended that the summons was “illegitimate and driven by political motivations,” evidently designed to impede his involvement in election campaigning in the states scheduled for polls. He further claimed it was “ambiguous, prejudiced, and legally unsustainable,” asserting that the notice was dispatched based on extraneous considerations influenced by the BJP.