The Delhi High Court has issued a fresh notice to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday, in response to pleas filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The agency challenges Kejriwal’s acquittal in two separate summons cases, linked to his failure to appear before the agency pertaining to the excise policy investigation.
Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma commented on the matter during a recent hearing. According to court registries, previous notices sent to the former chief minister were not served. The ED’s counsel mentioned that the original notice was issued on April 1, but no representation had been made on Kejriwal’s behalf.
“Registry reports that (he is) not served. I will issue fresh notice. Respondent has not been served,” stated Justice Sharma. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 22.
The ED’s complaint argues that the former chief minister intentionally ignored summonses issued during the investigation. The agency alleges that Kejriwal raised trivial objections to the summons and deliberately devised reasons to evade questioning.
In previous submissions, the ED claimed that the trial court erred gravely by acquitting Kejriwal despite clear evidence that the summonses were duly issued and received, yet he chose not to attend the inquiry.
On January 22, the trial court opined that the ED did not succeed in proving that Kejriwal intentionally disobeyed the summonses. The court stated, “Neither the service of summons through emails has been proved by the ED nor the process of issuing summons to any person under Section 50(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) via email has been established as lawful.”
The ED’s allegations further assert that the other individuals accused in the case had been in contact with Kejriwal while formulating the now-suspended excise policy, which allegedly provided undue benefits and kickbacks to the Aam Aadmi Party.
Kejriwal is currently on interim bail related to the money laundering case. The Supreme Court referred questions regarding the necessity of his arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to a larger bench for comprehensive examination.
On February 27, a trial court discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia, and 21 other accused in the liquor policy case, asserting that the CBI case lacked the strength to withstand judicial scrutiny and stood entirely discredited.
The CBI’s plea against this discharge remains pending in the high court. This ongoing legal saga underscores the turbulence in Indian politics, as Kejriwal and his party continue to navigate these serious allegations.
