Liquor Policy Case: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday issued fresh summons to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal in its ongoing probe in Delhi Liquor policy case, news agency ANI reported, citing sources. The probe agency has asked the AAP leader to join the investigation on February 2. It is pertinent to mention that this is the fifth time that Kejriwal has been summoned by the ED.
Kejriwal had skipped four earlier summonses issued by the federal agency over the last four months. While it is understood that the fresh summons was for February 2, an official confirmation was awaited, PTI reported. The 55-year-old politician, a former IRS officer, was called on earlier dates like January 18 and January 3 and December 21 and November 2 in 2023. The Delhi CM has always called these notices "illegal".
Kejriwal's name has been mentioned multiple times in charge sheets filed by the ED in the case. The probe agency has said that the accused were in touch with him regarding the preparation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh apart from communications in-charge of the party Vijay Nair and some businessmen have been arrested in this case by the ED till now. 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 AAP.
The policy was subsequently scrapped and Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe, following which the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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