The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday issued eight summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy-linked money laundering case. Kejriwal skipped the seventh summons on Monday.
The probe agency has summoned the Delhi chief minister to appear at its headquarters on March 4. However, the AAP leader has been skipping the summons saying the matter is sub judice. Kejriwal skipped the seventh summons issued to him in the case, saying he would appear before the agency if a court ordered him to do so.
A city court, approached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over Kejriwal skipping its summonses, has directed the chief minister to appear before it on March 16.
The ED, while issuing the eighth summons, rejected the contention that a fresh notice for Kejriwal's attendance was wrong as the matter was sub judice. The AAP after skipping the summons on Monday said in a statement, “Instead of sending summons daily, the ED should wait for the court's decision. We will not leave the INDIA alliance. Modi government should not create pressure like this.”
Kejriwal, along with party leaders visited Rajghat on Monday to mark one year of arrest of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Sisodia, who held the education portfolio as well, was arrested on February 26, 2023, in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.
Talking to presspersons, Kejriwal said, “Manish Sisodia improved the quality of education in the national capital and brought hope after 75 years. But a leader like him was framed in a false case. Cases against him would have been withdrawn, had he joined the BJP. But Sisodia chose not to leave the path of truth.”
-with PTI inputs.
