Delhi High Court to Hear Arvind Kejriwal’s Challenge Against ED Summons in Excise Policy Money Laundering Case

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has taken his legal battle against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the Delhi High Court, challenging the summons issued to him in connection with an excise policy-linked money laundering case.

Scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, Kejriwal’s petition seeks to contest the ninth summons issued by the ED, calling for his appearance on March 21 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Kejriwal has consistently refused to comply with these summonses, denouncing them as illegal.

The case revolves around allegations of corruption in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently annulled. Prompted by a recommendation from Lt. Governor VK Saxena, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated an FIR over alleged corruption, leading to the money laundering investigation.

Authorities assert that irregularities occurred during the modification of the excise policy, with undue favors allegedly extended to license holders.

AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are currently in judicial custody in connection with the case.

Arvind Kejriwal’s name has surfaced multiple times in the charge sheets filed by the ED, which alleges that the accused were in contact with Kejriwal to shape the excise policy, resulting in undue benefits for them. The agency claims that these benefits were reciprocated with kickbacks to the Aam Aadmi Party.

Recently, a Delhi court granted bail to Kejriwal on two complaints filed by the ED for failing to appear in response to six of the previous eight summonses in the money laundering case.

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