The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on December 21, in connection with the liquor policy scam case. This is the second time he has been called by the agency for questioning in the case.
The agency had summoned Kejriwal on November 2. He, however, declined to appear before the Enforcement Directorate citing prior engagements linked to the now-concluded assembly elections.
“Whoever raises voice against PM Modi will either get suspended or arrested. Sanjay Singh, Satyendar Jain and Manish Sisodia are a few examples,” he said.
Kejriwal’s party AAP has claimed the agency is planning to arrest Kejriwal in connection with the alleged scam. It has been running a campaign seeking the view of the people of the national capital on whether he should resign as the chief minister or continue running the government from inside the jail.
Two of the Kejriwal’s closest associates, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh have been in jail for months over allegations of money laundering linked to the alleged liquor policy scam.
The summons to Kejriwal, the national convenor of AAP, pertain to questioning in the alleged Delhi excise policy case and for recording his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), PTI reported quoting officials.
It is alleged that the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge repeatedly refuted by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The policy was subsequently scrapped and the Delhi lieutenant governor recommended a CBI probe, following which the ED registered a case under the PMLA.
Delhi government officials had on Saturday said that Kejriwal will leave for a 10-day Vipassana meditation course at an undisclosed location on December 19.
