New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal today skipped the sixth summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to appear before the investigation team for questioning in connection with the Delhi liquor scam case. This marks the sixth time that Arvind Kejriwal did not present himself for questioning in the case. The court adjourned the matter until March 16 as Arvind Kejriwal expressed his inability to be personally present for the hearing due to the ongoing assembly session.
Reacting to Arvind Kejriwal’s avoidance of appearing for questioning, Delhi BJP Secretary Harish Khurana said that this shows Arvind Kejriwal’s disrespect for the law and legal procedures of the country by skipping the summons to appear in the liquor scam case. Harish Khurana added that by failing to appear for questioning, Arvind Kejriwal is unfairly delaying the investigation in a democratic country.
Arvind Kejriwal had been issued the latest summons on February 14, asking him to appear on February 19. He has not appeared for questioning in the excise policy matter, which is being investigated by the central investigation agency, on five prior occasions so far.
It is reported that, invoking sections 190 and 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the complaint was filed for non-compliance with summons issued by the ED under Section 50 (power to issue summons) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and for not participating in the ongoing investigation in the case. In its application, the ED stated that if Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM, a high-ranking public functionary, disobeyed the law, it would set a wrong example for the common man, in addition to blaming him for being “non-cooperative” in the investigation.
The ED also pointed out that Arvind Kejriwal had “no special immunity” to disobey the summons merely on account of being a CM and “on the pretext of being busy with some work”.
The Delhi liquor scam case revolves around the Delhi state government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which granted licenses to liquor traders. It is accused of favoring certain dealers who allegedly bribed for it. The case is also known as LiquorGate.
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