Kejriwal, Consents to Virtual Appearance Before ED, Requests Post-March 12

Responding to eight summons issued by the Commissioner of Police (ED) asking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear in court on March 4, the Aam Aadmi Party leader responded by calling it “illegal”. However, he said that he would be willing to appear before the organization almost every day after March 12.

First, on February 27, the Police Department (ED) issued an eighth notice against the Chief Minister of Delhi and Chief Minister of Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal for offenses related to Delhi Constitution 2021-22 related to financial research. The notice directs him to attend the investigation on March 4.

This is the last call after the seventh call on February 26, when Kejriwal did not show up. Kejriwal has refrained from attending ED’s previous seven calls on various issues. Dates include February 26, February 19, February 2, January 18, January 3, November 2, and December 22. It was stated that it was “illegal and politically motivated”.

The ED sought records of Kejriwal’s policy-making speeches, pre-policy meetings and records of alleged crimes. Despite being passed for the seventh time, AAP issued a letter saying it was “illegal” and assured that the ED should not send any more letters and should wait for the court’s decision as the centre. The investigation went to court regarding the matter.

After Kejriwal did not attend the fifth hearing announced by the Police Department, the agency reprimanded him on February 3 for “failure to comply with the summons”.

The case emerged from the First Information Report (FIR) by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleging certain irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Police Act (2021-22). The policy was reversed amid allegations of corruption.

In the sixth chargesheet on December 2, 2023, ED named AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his colleague Sarvesh Mishra. The ministry accused AAP of misappropriating funds worth Rs 1,000 crore. Rs 45 crore has been generated through this action as part of the 2022 Goa Assembly election campaign.

The excise policy aims to revive Delhi’s moribund liquor industry by replacing the volume-based system with a license fee for traders. It promised to improve the market and provide a better shopping experience by announcing discounts and offers on liquor purchase for the first time in Delhi.

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena announced that an investigation was launched into allegations of irregularities in the policy, which led to his dismissal. AAP accused Saxena chief minister Anil Baijal of violating the law by making last-minute changes that left revenue below expectations.

Currently, two senior leaders of AAP, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are under judicial review as part of the case. Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia was arrested by the Indian Bureau of Investigation on February 26 following various investigations. Also on October 5, the Ministry of Education arrested Singh, a member of the Federal People’s Congress.