Kejriwal Skips Today's ED Summon, Demands 'Immediate' Withdrawal of Notice

Arvind Kejriwal is skipping his ED appearance today after he in his reply to the central agency said that the summon issued to him was illegal, politically motivated and given on request of BJP.

Kejriwal is expected to leave from his residence shortly for campaign in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh’s Singrauli.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal has been asked to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today for questioning in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, in which his party colleague and former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia is currently lodged in jail. Follow Arvind Kejriwal ED Summon LIVE Updates Here

While security was tightened outside ED office over Arvind Kejriwal’s expected appearance, his reply to the probe agency made it clear that he will skip the summon today.

Kejriwal, in his reply to ED, has said that the notice is illegal and politically motivated, adding that it was sent on the request of BJP so that he could be stopped from campaigning in four states.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said ED should “immediately withdraw the notice.”

“…Being the National Convener and a star campaigner of the AAP, I am required to travel for campaigning and to provide political guidance to my field workers of AAP. As the CM of Delhi, I have governance and official commitments for which my presence is required, particularly in view of Diwali coming up…Please recall the said summons, which is to say the least is vague and motivated and unsustainable in law,” Kejriwal said in his letter.

The Delhi government had implemented the excise policy in question on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption. According to investigating agencies, the profit margins of wholesalers were increased from five to 12 per cent under the new policy.

While agencies have alleged that the new policy resulted in cartelisation and those ineligible for liquor licences were favoured for monetary benefits, the AAP-led Delhi government and Manish Sisodia have denied any wrongdoing, saying that the new policy would have led to an increase in Delhi’s revenue share.