New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has decided to skip the Enforcement Directorate's summons, issued in connection with the alleged Delhi Liquor scam case. Instead, he, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is en route to Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, to address an election rally and conduct a road show.

Earlier, Kejriwal had raised questions about the legality of the summons sent by the Enforcement Directorate. In his response to the ED's notice on October 30, he demanded the agency withdraw the notice, citing its alleged political motivations.

Kejriwal stated, "The summon notice is illegal and politically motivated. It was sent at the behest of the BJP with the intention of hindering my election campaigning in four states. ED should immediately withdraw the notice."

The ED's decision to summon the Delhi Chief Minister has taken a political turn, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing the BJP of pursuing a vendetta against them.

AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "This move is not just being observed in India, but by the entire world. The Centre appears power-hungry and arrogant, seeking to suppress every small political party. The Aam Aadmi Party is a growing national party, and the BJP Government is employing all means to stifle it."

In response, the BJP emphasized that the law was taking its natural course, and Kejriwal should comply with it. Harish Khurana, a BJP spokesperson, stated, "The law is functioning as it should. The ED has summoned him as per the law. Just two days ago, the Supreme Court observed a money trail of Rs. 338 crores in the case. Arvind Kejriwal must provide answers because it's implausible that such a money trail exists without his knowledge. He also needs to clarify the increase in excise duty from 5% to 12%. Playing the victim card and claiming vendetta politics won't suffice."

Notably, Arvind Kejriwal was previously summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in April of this year in connection with the same case. However, he was not named as an accused in the initial FIR filed by the CBI in August of the previous year.

In February 2023, Manish Sisodia, Arvind Kejriwal's Deputy, was arrested by the CBI due to alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of Delhi's now-defunct excise policy. The policy was revoked amid opposition allegations of foul play.

On October 30, the Supreme Court rejected Manish Sisodia's bail plea concerning the alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy case and directed that the trial be completed within six to eight months. The court also noted the tentative establishment of a money trail amounting to 338 crores.

Kejriwal Questions Legality of ED Summons in Excise Policy Probe