Kejriwal Challenges Summons in Delhi Excise Policy Case, Hearing Resumes Friday - 2024-03-15

Delhi court to resume hearing Kejriwal’s plea challenging summons on ED complaints on Friday

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday moved the Sessions Court to challenge the summons issued to him by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on the Enforcement Directorate's complaints.

The complaints were related to his alleged non-compliance with the summons issued by the central probe agency in the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case.

The matter is scheduled to be heard by Special Judge Rakesh Syal this afternoon.

Last week, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate took cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate's second complaint and issued fresh summons to Arvind Kejriwal for his personal appearance before the court on March 16, 2024.

The Enforcement Directorate had filed a second complaint against Kejriwal for allegedly not complying with the summons in the alleged Delhi liquor policy money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate has stated that the second complaint has been filed against Arvind Kejriwal under various sections of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for non-attendance in compliance with the law.

Earlier, the ED had filed a complaint against Kejriwal, leading to the court issuing a summons to him.

Kejriwal appeared virtually before the court on the ED's complaint but expressed his desire to join the court proceedings physically.

However, due to the confidence motion and budget sessions, he couldn't appear physically.

Senior Advocate Ramesh Gupta, representing Kejriwal, moved an exemption plea and assured the court that Kejriwal would appear physically on the next date.

The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate allowed the exemption plea for the day and fixed March 16, 2024, for Kejriwal's physical appearance before the court.

On February 7, 2024, Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court took cognizance of the ED's recent complaint against Kejriwal for not complying with the summons in the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case.

Kejriwal had agreed to appear virtually before the ED on any date after March 12.

In its sixth charge sheet filed in the case on December 2, 2023, naming AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his aide Sarvesh Mishra, the ED has claimed that the AAP used kickbacks worth Rs 45 crore generated via the policy as part of its assembly elections campaign in Goa in 2022.

The excise policy was aimed at revitalizing the city's flagging liquor business and replacing a sales-volume-based regime with a licence fee for traders.

It promised swankier stores and a better buying experience.

The policy introduced discounts and offers on the purchase of liquor for the first time in Delhi.

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena's move to order a probe into alleged irregularities in the regime prompted the scrapping of the policy.

The AAP has accused Saxena's predecessor, Anil Baijal, of sabotaging the move with a few last-minute changes that resulted in lower-than-expected revenues.

Two senior AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are already under judicial custody in the case.

Sisodia, who was the then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, was arrested by the CBI on February 26 following several rounds of questioning.

On October 5, the ED arrested Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member.

(with agency inputs)