Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in the Delhi Liquor policy case. He is scheduled to appear before the ED on November 2. This development comes after the Supreme Court denied bail to former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy matter. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has previously questioned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor in April this year.
In response to the ED summon, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said, "As per the news that the Central Government's ED has sent summon to Delhi CM, it gets clear that the Centre has only one aim to somehow finish AAP. They are not leaving a stone unturned in framing a false case to put CM Arvind Kejriwal in jail and to finish AAP."
Similarly, Delhi Minister Atishi also remarked that "the BJP is scared of AAP and the work being done in Punjab and Delhi by the government. They are scared of free electricity, good schools, and Mohalla clinics. Therefore, they are trying to frame AAP leaders in false cases and send them to jail."
"They want to finish the party. Under this conspiracy, the ED has summoned Arvind Kejriwal on Nov 2 to get him arrested. I want to tell the BJP that we are not scared of going to jail and their false cases," she said, as per news agency ANI.
BJP Seeks Kejriwal's Resignation Following ED Summon, Sisodia's Bail Denial
Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva demanded Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's resignation, asserting, "When the Liquor scam came to the fore, we were saying since the beginning that CM Arvind Kejriwal is the kingpin in the scam. When SC denied the bail plea of Manish Sisodia and established that Rs 338 crore money trail.
"Arvind Kejriwal has to tell where they have spent Rs 338 crore...Arvind Kejriwal and his entire team, who call themselves honest, their faces have been unveiled," he told ANI.
Likewise, BJP leader RP Singh expressed similar sentiments saying, "Arvind Kejriwal should resign now because he is the kingpin of the complete liquor scam...There are officers who have said on record that every policy, every change in the policy was dictated by Arvind Kejriwal. He drafted the policy benefitting the liquor mafia. Now he is being called on that; it is better he resigns or will have to wait until he is arrested."
Earlier in the day, the Delhi BJP contended that the rejection of Manish Sisodia's bail applications indicated there was sufficient evidence to prima facie implicate him in the alleged scam, news agency PTI reported.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva asserted that the court's ruling was a rebuff to the Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including Kejriwal, who had consistently maintained that there was no evidence of a money trail in the liquor scam, as per PTI.
AAP To File Review Petition For Manish Sisodia's Bail
AAP leader Atishi responded to the Supreme Court's dismissal of Manish Sisodia's bail pleas in the Delhi excise policy case, emphasising the party's respect for the court while expressing disagreement with its order. Atishi announced that the AAP intends to file a review petition against the apex court's decision.
Addressing the media after the order, Atishi highlighted that the court had delivered an adverse verdict despite making sharp observations about the conduct of the investigating agencies.
More On It: 'Not Even A Single Rupee Of Corruption...': AAP After SC Dismisses Manish Sisodia's Bail Plea
During the hearing, the court raised probing questions to the prosecution regarding the 'money trail' related to Manish Sisodia.
The court's bench, comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice SVN Bhatti, recorded statements from the probe agencies, indicating that the trial in these cases was expected to conclude in six to eight months. However, the bench also clarified that if the trial proceeded in a lackadaisical manner, Sisodia would have the liberty to apply for bail in these cases in three months, PTI reported.
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