This repeated summoning of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who has previously missed five summons citing various reasons, underscores the intensifying scrutiny by the ED. A Delhi court recently mandated Arvind Kejriwal’s appearance before it on February 17, following a complaint by the ED regarding his non-compliance with its summons
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the sixth time. The summons, issued on February 14, 2024, requires Kejriwal to appear before the agency on February 19, 2024, to answer questions related to a money laundering case linked to the now-defunct excise policy.
This repeated summoning of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who has previously missed five summons citing various reasons, underscores the intensifying scrutiny by the ED. A Delhi court recently mandated Kejriwal’s appearance before it on February 17, following a complaint by the ED regarding his non-compliance with its summons. The court highlighted that as a public servant, Kejriwal cannot disregard the directives of a government agency, stating that the Chief Minister was “bound to comply” with such summons “by virtue of Section 50(3) of the Act,” which says,
(Where the input tax credit has been wrongly availed and utilised, the registered person shall pay interest on such input tax credit wrongly availed and utilised, at such rate not exceeding twenty-four per cent. as may be notified by the Government, on the recommendations of the Council, and the interest shall be calculated, in such manner as may be prescribed.)
The ED’s insistence on Kejriwal’s appearance stems from allegations surrounding the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021–22, which is accused of facilitating cartelization and favoritism towards certain liquor traders through bribes, a claim the AAP has consistently denied. The controversy led to the scrapping of the policy and a subsequent CBI probe recommended by the Delhi lieutenant governor, culminating in the ED’s investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Kejriwal’s interactions with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in April last year further complicate the narrative. Despite being summoned, Kejriwal has not been named as an accused in the CBI’s FIR. Reflecting on his questioning by the CBI, Kejriwal remarked,
“CBI asked 56 questions (but) everything is fake. Am convinced they don’t have a single piece of evidence.”
The Delhi Chief Minister has voiced his concerns over the legality and motivation behind the ED’s summonses, describing them in a letter to the agency as “illegal and politically motivated” and alleging that they aim to hinder his electoral campaigning efforts.
The judge ordered the issuance of summons to Arvind Kejriwal for the offense under Section 174 of the IPC on February 17, 2024,
The Enforcement Directorate lodged a complaint accusing the Delhi chief minister of willfully disregarding summons and providing inadequate explanations. The agency argued that if a prominent public official such as him flouted the law, it would establish an unfavorable precedent for the general populace, particularly the common citizen.
As the case progresses, with Kejriwal’s scheduled appearance before the ED, it highlights the ongoing tension between the AAP leader and central investigative agencies. This situation not only raises questions about the excise policy’s implementation and the alleged financial irregularities but also about the broader implications for political accountability and the relationship between state leaders and national law enforcement bodies in India.
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