Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday decided to skip the fifth summons by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the money laundering probe related to irregularities in the excise policy 2021-22 case, reports The Indian Express.

The recent summons to the Delhi CM comes after he skipped the fourth summons on January 18. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) labelled Kejriwal’s summons “unlawful” and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to arrest him and destabilize the Delhi government.

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The AAP’s national convenor had also skipped previous ED summons on January 18, January 3, November 2, and December 22, with Kejriwal calling them “illegal and politically motivated”.

The ED seeks to record the Delhi CM’s statement on aspects such as policy formulation, pre-implementation meetings, and allegations of bribery.

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In response to skipping the fourth summons, Kejriwal asserted its illegality and expressed readiness to cooperate. He alleged that the ED’s intention was to arrest him and hinder his election campaigning.

The case originates from a First Information Report (FIR) alleging multiple irregularities in the formulation and execution of the Delhi excise policy (2021-22) by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The policy was withdrawn amid corruption allegations.

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In its sixth charge sheet filed on December 2, 2023, the ED named AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his associate Sarvesh Mishra, claiming that the AAP utilized kickbacks of Rs 45 crore from the policy for its assembly elections campaign in Goa in 2022.

The excise policy aimed to revitalize Delhi’s liquor business by replacing a sales-volume-based regime with a trader’s license fee. It introduced discounts and offers on liquor purchases for the first time in the city.

The Lieutenant Governor’s inquiry into alleged irregularities led to the policy’s cancellation. The AAP accused the former Lieutenant Governor, Anil Baijal, of sabotaging the move with last-minute changes, resulting in lower-than-expected revenues.

Two senior AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are already under judicial custody in the case. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, and on October 5, the ED arrested Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member.