The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday issued fresh summons to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and asked him to appear before the investigative agency on January 3, 2024 for questioning in the Delhi excise policy scam case. Notably, this is the third time Kejriwal has been summoned by ED after he skipped the first two summons.
The central agency has asked the Delhi Chief Minister to join the Delhi liquor scam case probe soon after he returns from his Vipassana retreat. The ED had last asked him to appear for questioning on December 21, however, he decided to leave for his 10-day Vipassana meditation camp and skipped the summons.
Kejriwal was summoned by the ED for the first time on November 2. Reasoning that he had work in Delhi ahead of Diwali and was also scheduled to campaign for his party in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the AAP chief did not appear before the investigation agency.
WHAT HAPPENS IF KEJRIWAL SKIPS THE 3RD SUMMONS TOO
- The Enforcement Directorate can approach the Special Court seeking the issuance of warrants against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
- By skipping the third summons, Kejriwal can create a ground of “non-cooperation” with the investigation which can lead the ED to exersice its power under Section 19 to initiate an arrest.
- Kejriwal can approach appropriate court challenging these summons on various grounds.
- The Enforcement Directorate can carry out searches at various premieres linked to the Chief Minister if they deem fit.