The Delhi High Court issued a fresh notice to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal regarding pleas from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging his acquittal in two summons cases. This development occurred on Wednesday, with critical implications for the political landscape in Delhi. The ED’s concerns stem from Kejriwal’s alleged failure to respond to summons in connection with the excise policy case.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma highlighted that a prior notice issued to Kejriwal had not been served. The investigating agency’s counsel informed the court that a notice had been dispatched on April 1, yet no representation appeared for the former chief minister.
The judge remarked, “The registry reports that he is not served. I will issue fresh notice. Respondent has not been served,” as she scheduled the next hearing for July 22.
The cases originate from the ED’s complaint to the trial court, alleging that Kejriwal intentionally disregarded summons issued as part of the investigation. The agency claimed he raised frivolous objections as a means to avoid participating in the inquiry.
Diving deeper into the proceedings, the ED’s counsel remarked that the trial court had committed a “grave error” by acquitting Kejriwal. He noted that it was undisputed the summons were both duly issued and received, yet Kejriwal did not present himself before the agency.
On January 22, the trial court determined that the ED had failed to demonstrate that Kejriwal willfully disobeyed the orders. It stated, “Neither the service of summons through emails has been proved by the ED nor has the process of issuing summons under Section 50(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) via email been shown to comply with legal standards.”
The ED has alleged that other co-accused in the case communicated with Kejriwal to formulate the now-defunct excise policy which allegedly provided unwarranted benefits and kickbacks to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Currently, Kejriwal remains on interim bail within the money laundering matter, as the Supreme Court has referred discussions around the need for his arrest under the PMLA to a larger bench for thorough examination.
Back in February, the trial court discharged Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the liquor policy case, asserting that the CBIs case could not withstand judicial scrutiny and was entirely discredited.
The CBI’s challenge against the discharge currently awaits a decision in the high court.
This situation adds another layer of complexity to Kejriwal’s political journey, as the ED continues its investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding Delhi’s excise policy. As the court proceedings unfold, all eyes remain on how this case will impact Kejriwal’s political standing and the broader AAP framework.
