The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning in the now scrapped Delhi excise policy case. This development comes on the same day when the Supreme Court rejected the bail plea of Kejriwal’s former deputy, Manish Sisodia, in the same case, stating there is “material and evidence” which “tentatively” supports one charge under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
भाजपा और नरेंद्र मोदी को @ArvindKejriwal से डर लगता है।
◾️इनकी @ArvindKejriwal को Arrest करने की साज़िश है।
◾️ED CBI BJP Headquarters से Order लेती हैं।
पर मैं Narendra Modi से कहना चाहता हूँ:
हम डरने वाले नहीं हैं, क्योंकि @ArvindKejriwal सत्य के साथ खड़े हैं और जीत… pic.twitter.com/2hDaTsJxK3
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 30, 2023
Reacting to the summons, Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj expressed concerns about what he perceives as a targeted effort to undermine the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He stated, “As per the news that the Central Government’s ED has sent a summons to Delhi CM, it becomes clear that the Centre has only one aim, to somehow finish AAP. They are not leaving a stone unturned in framing a false case to put CM Arvind Kejriwal in jail and to finish AAP.”
This latest development follows an earlier questioning of Arvind Kejriwal by the CBI on April 16, 2023, where he cooperated with investigators, stating, “I was called at 11 am and they questioned me until 8.30 pm. They questioned me in a cordial atmosphere. I want to thank CBI officers for their hospitality and courtesy. I answered all the questions because I did not have anything to hide.”
The Delhi excise policy case dates back to November 2021 when the Arvind Kejriwal government implemented a new excise policy in the state. However, on July 31, 2022, the government scrapped the policy after it came under scrutiny. On August 17, 2022, the CBI registered a case in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the policy, naming 15 accused, including Manish Sisodia. Two days later, the agency conducted searches at the AAP leader’s premises in Delhi.
Manish Sisodia was subsequently questioned by the CBI on October 17, 2022, for around eight hours. On February 18, 2023, the CBI summoned him again, days after filing a chargesheet in the case. Finally, on February 26, 2023, Sisodia was arrested by the central agency.
The Aam Aadmi Party and its leaders have consistently maintained their innocence, claiming that the allegations against them are politically motivated.
