Delhi excise policy case Live Updates: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal skipped the questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday and has decided to go to Madhya Pradesh for a roadshow with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann instead.
Kejriwal had been summoned in connection with the ED’s probe into the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. Writing to the probe agency, he called the notice “illegal and politically motivated”, and said, “The notice has been sent at the instance of the BJP to stop me from campaigning in four election-bound states.” He also urged the ED to withdraw the summons “immediately”.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo was summoned by the ED for questioning in connection with the alleged excise policy scam under which former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh are already in jail.
Kejriwal ED summons Live Updates: Arvind Kejriwal skips ED questioning. Follow Financial Express for all the latest updates
“He (Arvind Kejriwal is running from the agency. This means he is accepting his fault. It shows that he is afraid. This also shows that Kejriwal, the kingpin on liquor policy, has agreed to the charges,” said BJP leader Sambit Patra on Kejriwal skipping ED summons.
Arvind Kejriwal will hold a road show, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh as part of the party’s election campaign there.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was scheduled to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday in the alleged excise policy scam, will skip the summons.
Kejriwal is scheduled to travel to Madhya Pradesh’s Singhrauli today, for an electoral campaign, accompanied by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.
Amid allegations of a BJP conspiracy to detain Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has reportedly sought advice from its trusted MLAs and advisors on potential replacements in case the need arises.
When asked about a plan B if Kejriwal were to be arrested, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “As of now, I don’t know and I don’t think there’s any discussion about it. Kejriwal is our leader and we will work under his direction.” Read more
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) asking to take back the summons to him in the liquor policy case.
The ED’s notice is “illegal and politically motivated, sent at the behest of the BJP,” Kejriwal said in the letter, asking the same central probe agency that arrested his former deputy Manish Sisodia to “take back the notice immediately”.
#WATCH | Heavy security deployment outside the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi.
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2023
ED has summoned Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal to appear before them today in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. pic.twitter.com/Y274YjVy6o
The Enforcement Directorate raids are underway at the residence of AAP minister Raaj Kumar Anand in the Civil Lines area. Searches started early this morning. Raids are underway at 9 premises linked to him. (ANI)
#WATCH | ED raid underway at the residence of Delhi Minister Raaj Kumar Anand in Civil Lines area. Searches started early morning today. Raids are underway at 9 premises linked to him. Details awaited pic.twitter.com/2Q0ZuFIjGo
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2023
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hit out at the BJP-led central government, saying that it was conspiring to arrest all opposition leaders before next year’s Lok Sabha polls and cast votes for themselves in an empty country. The TMC chief’s statement came ahead of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s questioning by the ED in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case on November 2.