New Delhi: In the Excise Liquor Policy alleged corruption case, Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal this time again like every time, decided not to attend the summon in connection with the probe before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday.
In the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the Excise Liquor Policy case 2021-22 in the allocation of licenses of liquor shops.
This marks the seventh time Kejriwal has chosen not to appear before the ED, despite repeated summonses calling for his participation in the probe before February 26.
Since the initial summons on November 2 last year, Kejriwal has consistently avoided interrogation by the ED, challenging the legality of the summons and maintaining his refusal to comply.
“Since the matter is in the court, the next hearing in court is on March 16. Instead of sending summons daily against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the ED should wait for the court’s decision. We will not leave INDIA bloc alliance with due pressure being mounted on AAP,” said Health Minister of Delhi, Saurabh Bhardwaj.
Bhardwaj criticized the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he perceives as undue pressure tactics, suggesting the repeated summonses are an attempt to influence the AAP.
This refusal to comply is not new for Arvind Kejriwal, who has previously ignored summonses on December 18, January 3, January 18, and February 19, deeming them baseless and without evidence. The CM has formally requested the ED to dismiss these summonses.
The ED’s investigation hovered over alleged irregularities in the allocation of liquor licenses under the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, with accusations of corruption amounting to Rs 100 crore. Kejriwal, along with former deputy Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, faces scrutiny in this matter.
Furthermore, the ED alleges that funds obtained through illicit means were utilized by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during election campaigns in Goa.
Several AAP leaders, including Satendra Jain, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh, are currently in jail in connection with this investigation.
