Arvind Kejriwal Moves Delhi HC Against ED Complaints Over PMLA Summons

The Delhi High Court issued notice to Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Arvind Kejriwal's pleas against the complaints.   

However, the high court refused to stay the trial against the former CM at this stage.

Source : X/AAP

Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has moved Delhi High Court challenging the criminal complaints filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him for skipping its summons in the Delhi liquor policy case.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Arvind Kejriwal's pleas against the complaints.   

A bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri sought ED's response to Kejriwal's plea and listed the matter for hearing on December 19.

However, the high court refused to stay the trial against the former CM at this stage.

Senior Advocate Rebecca John appeared for Kejriwal and submitted that when the officer who served summons was available, filing of complaint filed by another officer of same rank is illegal. 

ED’s special counsel Zoheb Hossain raised preliminary objection to the plea. High Court bench has listed the matter for further hearing on December 19.

On March 14, Delhi Chief Minister moved the sessions court challenging summons issued to him by a magisterial court on ED's complaints alleging non-compliance of the summons issued to him in the now scrapped liquor policy case. Kejriwal has skipped 9 summons by ED. ED had raised the complaint in a magisterial court. 

On March 15, Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail by a Delhi Court in ED's complaint for skipping summons. The court then instructed him to furnish a bond of Rs 15,000. 

On March 21, the Delhi HC refused to grant protection from arrest to the Delhi CM. Kejriwal had filed a plea seeking protection from coercive action in Delhi's liquor policy-linked money-laundering case. On the same night, Kejriwal was arrested by the ED at night.

On March 22, the Delhi CM was remanded to six day ED custody by the special judge in Delhi's rouse avenue court till March 28

In May, he was released on interim bail by the Supreme Court to campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls before returning to prison on June 2. Later, the Supreme Court on September 13 granted regular bail to Arvind Kejriwal in the alleged scam in the now-scrapped excise policy.