He was previously called for questioning on November 2 and December 21 by the ED in connection with the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021 – both summons he skipped.
Why
The Delhi CM cited Rajya Sabha polls, Republic Day preparations and the probe agency’s “non-disclosure and non-response approach” as reasons for not appearing before the ED.
He wrote to the ED saying that he would be “happy to answer” any questionnaire sent by it.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed that the summons were sent with the intention to arrest him.
‘Judge, jury & executioner’
Kejriwal alleged that the ED has refused to acknowledge the receipt of his detailed submissions made in response to earlier notices to him. He wrote that “as a premier investigating agency of the country, the ‘non-disclosure and non-response approach adopted by you cannot sustain the test of law, equity or justice”.
“Your obstinacy tantamounts to assuming the role of judge, jury and executioner at the same time which is not acceptable in our country governed by the rule of law,” the chief minister said in his reply to the summons.
What next?
The ED can move the court and seek a warrant requiring Kejriwal to be available for questioning.
On his part, Kejriwal can also move the court and seek anticipatory bail to prevent the ED from arresting him.
The ED has already arrested former deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh in connection with the same case.
