NEW DELHI, Feb 19: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate on Monday for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy matter, with his party terming the summons as “illegal”.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) should wait for the court’s decision instead of repeatedly sending summons to Kejriwal.
Kejriwal has been summoned six times by the ED. The agency had earlier this month approached a city court after Kejriwal skipped its multiple summonses related to the case.
Kejriwal told reporters at the Delhi Assembly that reply to the ED were being given as per the law.
“We are replying as per the law. Now, ED has filed a case in the court and they should wait for the decision of the court before issuing any fresh summons,” he said.
On Saturday, the Rouse Avenue court had granted exemption to Kejriwal from personal appearance for the day in connection with the complaint filed by the central agency.
The application moved by Kejriwal’s counsel stated that the Budget Session of the Delhi assembly has commenced on February 15 and shall continue till the first week of March.
He will physically appear before the court on the next date of hearing on March 16, it said.
The AAP leadership, including Kejriwal, has been alleging that the BJP wanted to arrest him to topple his government in Delhi and finish the party.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva claimed that even the court has admitted that the ED summonses to Kejriwal were legal and he should cooperate in the probe.
“Its contempt of court if Kejriwal is terming the ED summonses illegal despite the court’s observation. The Delhi chief minister is not ready to accept that scam has been done in the excise policy. The probe agencies are doing their job and he will also be behind the bars like Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh,” Sachdeva said.(PTI)
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