Arvind Kejriwal Responds to ED Summons, Agrees to Virtual Questioning in Delhi Excise Policy Case

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sent a reply to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in response to its summons, expressing readiness to answer questions through video-conferencing after March 12 in connection with the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy case. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sources confirmed this, stating that Kejriwal deems the summons illegal but remains prepared to cooperate with the probe agency.

Kejriwal has previously skipped eight summonses, asserting their illegality and requesting the agency to await court decisions on the matter. Despite considering the summons illegal, Kejriwal reiterated his willingness to respond to the ED’s questions.

The Delhi CM is also required to appear before a city court on March 16, responding to a complaint filed by the ED regarding his non-compliance with summonses. The ED, in its eighth summons on February 27, asked Kejriwal to join the investigation on March 4. This follows previous summonses on February 26, February 19, February 2, January 18, January 3, November 2, and December 22.

The ED seeks Kejriwal’s statement on various aspects of the excise policy, including its formulation, pre-finalization meetings, and bribery allegations. The Delhi excise policy case is rooted in an FIR alleging irregularities in the policy’s formation and implementation, leading to its withdrawal. The AAP has faced accusations of utilizing kickbacks for its campaign in Goa. Kejriwal’s response to the ED comes amidst a legal battle over the legitimacy of the summonses.