Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has taken a legal stand against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by filing a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging all nine summons issued to him in the excise policy case. The summons, deemed unconstitutional and illegal by Kejriwal’s legal team, are set to be reviewed by a bench comprising Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Manoj Jain on Wednesday.
The plea filed by Kejriwal’s legal representatives also contests the validity of several provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This move comes after the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Rouse Avenue Court granted bail to Kejriwal on two complaints filed by the ED for non-compliance with previous summons.
The ED’s interest in Kejriwal’s statement revolves around key aspects of the excise policy, including its formulation, pre-finalization meetings, and allegations of bribery. The agency’s sixth charge sheet in the case, filed on December 2, 2023, implicated AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his aide Sarvesh Mishra, alleging kickbacks worth Rs 45 crore were utilized in the AAP’s assembly elections campaign in Goa in 2022.
The excise policy, aimed at revitalizing Delhi’s liquor business, underwent scrutiny following allegations of irregularities, leading to a probe ordered by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. The AAP has accused Saxena’s predecessor, Anil Baijal, of introducing last-minute changes that impacted revenue expectations.
The legal saga surrounding the excise policy has also ensnared senior AAP leaders. Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, arrested by the CBI in February, and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, arrested by the ED in October, are both facing judicial proceedings in connection with the case.
