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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal skips ED summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has ignited a political storm, with the BJP accusing him of having a “hidden motive.” BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Kejriwal’s absence suggests he has something to hide and criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, likening him to a criminal on the run.
Drawing parallels to the denial of bail to Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh and highlighting court-established money trails, Poonawalla asserted, “Courts have not given bail to Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, and the courts have established that there is a money trail; despite all this, they are playing the same victim card.”
The Congress, on the other hand, accused the central agency of targeting opposition leaders and neglecting its primary responsibilities. Congress leader Udit Raj voiced concerns about the ED’s actions, stating, “ED is carrying out raids at the associates of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren. ED notices were sent to former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel right before the elections, and false allegations were put on him.”
“Arvind Kejriwal is also a part of the opposition alliance. Indeed, these agencies are not doing their work but putting pressure on the opposition leaders,” Raj added, expressing skepticism about the agency’s actions.
Earlier in the day, Arvind Kejriwal avoided appearing before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor scam case. The ED had issued a third summons to Kejriwal on December 22, 2023, in connection with the excise policy case, setting the appearance date for January 3.
Party sources indicate that Kejriwal, in his response to the ED, expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation but deemed the notice “illegal,” justifying his non-appearance. Additionally, Kejriwal questioned the timing of the notice, alleging a deliberate attempt to hinder his election campaign ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
It’s important to note that Kejriwal was not initially named as an accused in the FIR filed by the CBI on August 17 of the previous year. The arrest of Deputy CM Manish Sisodia by the CBI in February 2023 on charges related to irregularities in the framing and implementation of Delhi’s new excise policy had sparked controversy and accusations of foul play by the opposition.
Meanwhile, the ED conducted raids at the premises of the press advisor to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on the same day, related to an alleged land mining case linked to money laundering. The agency carried out searches at 12 locations, including the residence of the CM’s press advisor, as part of their ongoing investigations.
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