Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described the Enforcement Directorate’s summons as “illegal and politically motivated” after it was made in connection with a money laundering case involving the purported excise policy scam.
Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, was called in by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to be questioned in connection with a money laundering case involving the purported excise policy scam. On Thursday at 11 a.m. He was scheduled to give his deposition at the probe agency’s Delhi office.
(Image source : PTI)
Letter written by Kejriwal
In a sharply worded statement, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday set up a showdown with the Enforcement Directorate, claiming that the latter’s summons to him was leaked to a few BJP leaders in an attempt to damage “my image and reputation and has been issued at the behest of the ruling party”.
The AAP chief criticized the summons, saying it was “motivated and issued for extraneous considerations.” He also mentioned that before he even received the document, BJP leaders had begun making statements that implied he would be arrested. Kejriwal also called the summons “vague, motivated, and unsustainable in law” in a six-point rebuttal to the agency.
The aforementioned summons seems to have been issued with unnecessary considerations in mind. In parallel with the summons, BJP leaders began stating in the afternoon of October 30, 2023, that I would shortly be called in and taken into custody. That same evening, I received your summons. Thus, it is evident that the summons in question were issued at the behest of the ruling party in the Central government and were leaked to certain BJP leaders in an attempt to damage my reputation and image,” the letter read.
(Image source : ANI)
Regarding the summons, Kejriwal posted three queries
Kejriwal wrote that he wasn’t sure after seeing the summons whether that was for a witness or for being a suspect. He added that the summons have failed to give the details that are related to F. No. ECIR/HIUII/14/2022 or the reason or the further details of the summon. He asked through his letter, whether he was summoned as a CM or an individual or for AAP. He added that the summons appear very fishy to him.
As the National Convenor and a star campaigner of the Aam Aadmi Party, a National Party that is contesting elections, I am required to travel for campaigning and to provide political guidance to my field workers of the Aam Aadmi Party,” he said, citing elections in five states as his excuse for not being able to appear before the Enforcement Directorate.
In addition, Kejriwal emphasized that he had “governance and official commitments, for which my presence is required” as the chief minister of Delhi.
CMO’s take on this summon
Kejriwal had been called by the agency as part of an investigation into money laundering related to the purported Delhi excise policy scam. He was scheduled to appear today at 11 a.m. before the agency. However, his office made a hint to the media in a statement that he would not be appearing before the agency by saying he would be attending a roadshow in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh.
Additionally, the CMO mentioned that Kejriwal had responded to the ED. “The notification given by the ED is unlawful and is influenced by politics. On the BJP’s instructions, it was sent. In order to prevent CM from engaging in electioneering during the assembly elections in the four states, a notice has been sent. It further stated that the ED has to right away return the notice.
