NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday despatched a written reply to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) relating to his questioning in reference to the now-defunct liquor coverage case. In his reply, the AAP nationwide convenor stated that the ED summons issued to him are ”unlawful” however he’ll nonetheless reply the central company’s questions relating to the case.
Kejriwal Seeks ED Assembly After March 12
CM Kejriwal has formally requested a date for his ED look after March 12. The AAP celebration has confirmed his intention to take part within the listening to by way of video conferencing publish the desired date.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has despatched a reply to the Enforcement Directorate. He stated the summons is unlawful however nonetheless he is able to reply. Arvind Kejriwal has requested for a date after March 12 from ED. After that, Arvind Kejriwal will attend the listening to through video conferencing: AAP… pic.twitter.com/GHEUSQglZx
— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2024
Continued ED Summons Towards Kejriwal
The Directorate of Enforcement had beforehand issued an eighth summons to Chief Minister Kejriwal on February 27, associated to a cash laundering probe linked to irregularities within the Delhi Excise Coverage 2021-22. The CM’s non-compliance with the seventh summons on February 26 prompted the contemporary summons.
Kejriwal has constantly labelled the summonses as “unlawful and politically motivated,” having skipped seven prior ones issued on varied dates. The ED goals to document Kejriwal’s assertion on essential features of the case, together with coverage formulation, pre-finalization conferences, and allegations of bribery.
AAP Challenges Legitimacy Of ED Summons
In response to the seventh summons, AAP issued an announcement deeming it “unlawful” and urged the ED to await the court docket’s resolution, because the probe company had already approached the court docket on the matter. The authorized standoff intensified after the ED approached a Delhi court docket towards Kejriwal for non-compliance.
Delhi Excise Coverage And Cash Laundering Probe
The case revolves round an FIR alleging irregularities within the formation and execution of the Delhi Excise Coverage (2021-22) by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The coverage confronted allegations of corruption, resulting in its withdrawal. In a cost sheet filed in December 2023, the ED claimed that AAP used kickbacks from the coverage for its election marketing campaign in Goa.
The excise coverage, designed to assist town’s liquor enterprise, aimed to interchange a sales-volume-based system with a dealer license payment. It promised enhanced shops and improved shopping for experiences, introducing reductions on liquor purchases in Delhi.
Allegations of irregularities led to the coverage’s scrapping, with Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena ordering a probe. The AAP accused Saxena’s predecessor, Anil Baijal, of hindering the coverage with last-minute modifications, leading to lower-than-expected revenues.
A number of AAP Leaders Underneath Scrutiny
Senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are already in judicial custody. Sisodia, the previous Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, was arrested by the CBI on February 26, whereas Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, was arrested by the ED on October 5.
