Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is once again at the center of a legal tussle as he faces the possibility of skipping the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. This marks the fourth time that Kejriwal has been summoned by the ED for questioning, an event he has consistently labeled as “illegal.” The Chief Minister is likely to miss the summons again as he plans to leave for Goa to oversee the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
The ED has been probing Kejriwal’s role in the Delhi excise policy case, particularly related to the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. This policy faced allegations of favoring certain liquor traders through cartelization, leading to corruption charges that the AAP government vehemently denies. The ED’s charge sheets have mentioned Kejriwal multiple times, claiming that he was in contact with the accused regarding the preparation of the excise policy.
Kejriwal’s decision to skip the ED summons has become a recurring theme, and this time, he has cited his scheduled visit to Goa as the reason. The Chief Minister had originally planned to travel to Goa on January 11 but postponed the trip to oversee Delhi’s preparations for Republic Day. The ED summoned Kejriwal for the fourth time, asking him to appear on January 18, and sources suggest that he is likely to once again avoid compliance.
Delhi cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj echoed Kejriwal’s stance, stating that the Chief Minister is committed to abiding by the law and seeking guidance from legal counsel in his actions. The AAP government has consistently termed the ED’s summons as “illegal” and alleges that it is part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to target Arvind Kejriwal.
Arvind Kejriwal had previously ignored ED summons on January 3, citing Rajya Sabha polls and Republic Day preparations as reasons for his unavailability. Earlier, the Chief Minister was summoned on November 2 and December 21, 2023, but chose not to appear on both occasions.
The ongoing legal battle and the repeated instances of skipping ED summons have intensified the political drama in Delhi. The AAP has consistently accused the BJP and the NDA of attempting to “arrest” Arvind Kejriwal through these legal proceedings. The excise policy case and the subsequent investigations have further strained the relations between the AAP and the central government.
The ED’s allegations regarding the excise policy involve claims of bribery and corruption, pointing to certain liquor dealers receiving preferential treatment. The AAP, on its part, maintains that these accusations are baseless and part of a political vendetta against Kejriwal and the party.
As the situation unfolds, the legal proceedings are likely to continue, with the ED pursuing its investigation into the Delhi excise policy case. Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to prioritize his Goa visit over complying with the ED summons adds another layer of complexity to this ongoing political and legal saga. The Chief Minister’s actions and the ED’s response will be closely watched as the AAP prepares for the crucial Lok Sabha elections in 2024, making this a key chapter in Delhi’s political landscape.