'BJP Wants To Arrest Me, There Is No Corruption': Kejriwal Amid Summons Row
Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal's address comes after he declined to appear before the ED the third time in connection with the Delhi liquor policy probe.
Delhi Chief Minister On Thursday said the BJP wanted him arrested ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to stop him from campaigning. He said, "The truth is that there was no corruption. BJP wants to arrest me. My biggest asset is my honesty and they want to dent it. My lawyers have told me that summons sent to me are illegal. BJP's aim is not to probe me, but not to let me campaign for Lok Sabha elections. They want to call me on the pretext of investigation and then arrest me."
He said, "I've explained to ED why their summons is illegal, they have no answer to it.
This comes after Kejriwal refused to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi liquor scam case and speculation about his arrest as claimed by leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
On Wednesday, Kejriwal wrote to the probe agency seeking the intent of the summons served to him and a questionnaire. He also informed the agency that the Rajya Sabha elections are due on January 19 and he is slated to take part in the Republic Day programme on January 26.
“It is a matter of concern that despite my comprehensive response(s) bringing to your notice critical dimensions and legal objections involved in issuing summons to me to appear “in person” in your purported exercise of powers under Section 50 of PMLA, you have chosen not to respond. Therefore I once again reiterate the following aspects which are the core of the earlier responses…Any such impression that Enforcement Directorate may have gathered about the political party falling in the category of ‘artificial juridical person’ is palpably wrong and cannot qualify the test of legality. Similar notices without any specific details have been held illegal and quashed by courts,” his letter mentions.
AAP leaders trained guns on the BJP claiming that the ED's notice was sent to stop the Delhi Chief Minister from election campaigns.
Meanwhile, AAP sources told news agency PTI that Kejriwal will leave for a three-day tour of Gujarat on Saturday ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. He would address public meetings and party workers during his visit. The AAP chief is also likely to meet jailed party leader Chaitar Vasava.
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