Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal files petition against ED summons in Rouse Avenue Court

Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday approached Delhi's Ross Avenue court challenging the summons issued to him by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on complaints filed by the ED for non-compliance with the summons issued by them.

The revision petition is filed by Kejriwal before special judge Rakesh Sial. The court will hear the arguments on the application on Thursday.

Kejriwal has to date skipped eight summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the excise policy case.

The ED has issued a fresh summons to Kejriwal to appear in court in person on March 16.

The ED also transferred a second complaint of alleged non-compliance with summons orders in the alleged money laundering case related to Delhi liquor policy to the Ross Avenue court on March 7.

Kejriwal has maintained that ED summonses to him were "illegal". The AAP accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of stamping out opposition parties and toppling of governments.

"They sent me a lot of notices as if I am the biggest terrorist in the country," Kejriwal said last week.

He has always said that the BJP wants to crush his party because it is the fastest-growing party capable of challenging them across the country.

According to the ED, the agency wants to record Kejriwal's statement in the case on issues such as the formulation of tax policy, meetings held before its completion, and allegations of bribery.

In the sixth chargesheet filed in the case on December 2, 2023, naming AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his assistant Sarvesh Mishra, the CEO alleged that AAP used bribes worth Rs 45 crore generated via the policy as part of its assembly elections campaign in Goa in 2022.

The excise policy was aimed at revitalizing the city's flagging liquor business and replacing a sales volume-based regime with licensing fees for distributors. It promised fancier stores and a better shopping experience. The policy introduced discounts and offers on the purchase of liquor for the first time in Delhi.

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