New Delhi: In the case of the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate issued a fourth summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in order to question him, PTI reported, citing sources.
Kejriwal, who is also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been asked to depose before the agency on January 18, they said.
The 55-year-old Kejriwal had refused to depose before the ED for the third time on January 3, saying the "non-disclosure and non-response approach" of the agency cannot sustain the test of law, equity or justice and its "obstinacy" is tantamount to assuming the role of judge, jury and executioner.
The chief minister was earlier asked to depose on November 2 and December 21 2023.
It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge repeatedly refuted by the AAP.
The policy was subsequently scrapped, and Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe, following which the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
CBI questioned Arvind Kejriwal last April but has not been made accused in the case.
After the arrest of three of AAP's main leaders, there were speculations that Kejriwal would also be arrested following agencies questioning him. The party has been preparing for the eventuality and has been discussing the possible course of action after, NDTV reported.
The party wanted Kejriwal to do his job, remaining Chief Minister of Delhi, from jail if he is arrested.
According to CBI's charges, liquor companies were involved in the scrapped liquor policy, which would have brought them 12 per cent profit. A liquor lobby paid the party kickbacks and the same was routed to public servants, CBI alleges. When ED alleged the laundering of kickbacks, BJP alleged that AAP used the proceeds from the liquor scam to fund a large campaign in Gujarat.