Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to skip the fourth summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which directed him to appear on Thursday in connection with its investigation into a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy scam.

Kejriwal is scheduled to leave for a three-day tour of Goa alongside Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, immediately following his participation in an education department event in the national capital at 12 pm today.

“Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to leave for Goa on Thursday as per a pre-announced schedule,” an official in the Chief Minister’s office said.

Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal skips ED summons again, draws condemnation from BJP and Congress alike

The visit to Goa is strategically planned in light of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, during which he intends to engage with party workers and potentially address a public rally.

When asked about the fourth ED summons, Arvind Kejriwal informed reporters that he “will do whatever needs to be done as per law.”

Kejriwal has skipped three previous summons — on November 2, on December 22, and on January 3 — calling them “illegal and politically motivated”.

Also Read: ‘Nothing found on me, BJP after AAP leaders’: Kejriwal on ED summons

ED issued its fourth summons on January 13 — a day after AAP announced Kejriwal’s three-day Goa tour — leading to Delhi AAP convenor Gopal Rai accusing the central agency of issuing the summons in a bid to stop Kejriwal from campaigning.

On November 2 — the date of the first summons — Kejriwal travelled to poll-bound Madhya Pradesh to address a rally, and alleged that ED was acting at the behest of the BJP to malign his image. On December 22, Kejriwal went for a pre-announced meditation retreat, and on January 3, Kejriwal did not appear before the agency citing preparations for Republic Day celebrations as well as the then ongoing Rajya Sabha polls for three seats in Delhi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Kejriwal of “evasive behaviour”.

Also Read: Excise Policy case: ED issues fourth summons to Arvind Kejriwal, asked to appear on Jan 18

“CM Kejriwal is behaving like a fugitive but the law will soon reach him. The day ED takes cognisance of his evasive behaviour and takes stern action against the CM, then Aam Aadmi Party will start playing the victim card,” said Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor.

Former Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia and AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh have already been arrested in connection with the Delhi excise policy case and are in judicial custody.