ED has again sent summons to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Liquor Scam case. ED has called Arvind Kejriwal for questioning on January 18. This is the fourth time that ED has sent summons to Kejriwal. Earlier, ED had issued three summons on 2 November, 21 December and 3 January but he did not participate in the questioning. In such a situation, now it has to be seen whether Arvind Kejriwal appears before the ED after this fourth summons or not.
After the last summons, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had said that they want to cooperate with ED, but this ED summons is related to politics.
What did Arvind Kejriwal say on the third summons of ED?
ED had called Arvind Kejriwal for questioning on January 3 under the third summons. But, Arvind Kejriwal had refused to appear before the ED and had also said that the agency’s approach cannot meet the criteria of law, equality or justice and ED’s insistence on ‘judge, jury and executioner’. It’s like role playing.
At the same time, in the summons of ED, Aam Aadmi Party leaders claim that ED wants to arrest CM Kejriwal. The party says that this inquiry is just an excuse, the ED wants to arrest our leader. If ED wants, it can give its questions in writing.
Summons sent to stop him from campaigning in Lok Sabha elections: AAP
AAP national convenor Sushil Gupta said, “CM Arvind Kejriwal had announced that he is going to Goa to address a public meeting, and now summons have been issued. This will allow Arvind Kejriwal to campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Trying to keep away from it.”
On ED’s fourth summons to CM Arvind Kejriwal, party leader and Delhi minister Gopal Rai said, “Yesterday we announced the program of CM Arvind Kejriwal that he will visit Goa from 18th to 20th January in view of the Lok Sabha elections and today summons have been issued. This is no coincidence. This is to prevent Arvind Kejriwal from campaigning for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. ED should avoid becoming a frontal organization of BJP and should stop sending these illegal notices to Arvind Kejriwal”
They are afraid to answer questions: BJP
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said “…every time CM Arvind Kejriwal tries to run away from the investigation…You are running away from the investigation because you are afraid to answer the questions.”
“How long will you run away, you make excuses every time. You have taken an oath under the Constitution that you will follow the rules. The investigating agency is summoning you. If you are honest then go and talk, present your evidence. You also know that He has committed theft and wants to avoid investigation, hence he is visiting Goa.”
What is Delhi Liquor Policy issue?
The alleged Delhi liquor scam is related to the excise policy in 2021-22. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had recommended a thorough inquiry into its implementation, soon after which it was canceled by the AAP government in 2022. Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are currently in jail in this case.
Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in February last year and later he resigned from the post of Deputy Chief Minister in the Aam Aadmi Party government of Delhi. At the same time, Sanjay Singh was arrested on October 4 in money laundering case in Delhi liquor scam case.
