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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its pursuit of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, issuing its eighth summons in connection with the excise policy money laundering case. Despite skipping the previous seven summonses, Kejriwal finds himself once again summoned to appear before the agency, this time on March 4.
The ongoing saga took a contentious turn on Monday when Kejriwal defiantly disregarded the seventh summons, insisting that he would only heed the ED’s call if mandated by a court order. This latest summons marks yet another escalation in the standoff between the AAP chief and the enforcement authorities.
In response to Kejriwal’s repeated absences, the Enforcement Directorate has taken legal action, moving a Delhi court to address the chief minister’s persistent defiance. The AAP has characterized the summons as politically motivated, alleging that the BJP-led Central government seeks to exert pressure on the party to sever ties with the Congress-led INDIA alliance.
“The matter is in court and the next hearing is scheduled for March 16. Instead of sending these summons every day, ED should wait for the court’s order. We will not leave the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and the central government should not pressure us this way,” the AAP asserted in response to the latest summons.
Kejriwal has consistently dismissed the ED’s summonses as illegal and politically motivated, spurning repeated calls to appear before the agency on November 2, December 22 last year, and on January 3, January 18, February 2, and February 19.
Last week, in a legal maneuver, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court granted Kejriwal exemption from personal appearance in connection with the ED’s case until March 16. Citing obligations related to the Budget session of the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal opted to appear before the court virtually, signaling his resolve to confront the legal challenges head-on.
As the legal showdown unfolds, the specter of political intrigue looms large, with Kejriwal and the AAP steadfastly rejecting accusations of wrongdoing while maintaining their commitment to their political alliances and objectives. The forthcoming developments promise to shape the trajectory of this contentious legal battle and its implications for the political landscape of the national capital.
