The News Freedom
New Delhi, December 18
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener has been summoned for the second time by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the ongoing money laundering probe linked to the Delhi excise policy. Kejriwal was asked to appear before the agency on December 21st, raising the political temperature in the national capital once again.
This fresh summons comes after Kejriwal skipped the ED’s initial call on November 2nd, citing commitments and campaigning for the Madhya Pradesh elections. He had termed the first summons “vague, motivated and unsustainable in law,” adding to the brewing controversy surrounding the case.
The Delhi excise policy, implemented in February 2022, faced accusations of irregularities and preferential treatment to select liquor retailers. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR in July, followed by the ED in November, expanding the investigation.
Kejriwal has consistently maintained his innocence, calling the probe a “witch hunt” by the BJP-led central government. However, the AAP chief’s refusal to appear before the ED the first time and the renewed summons fuel the opposition’s narrative of a potentially corrupt party.
The BJP has seized the opportunity to attack the AAP, questioning the transparency and fairness of the liquor policy. Allegations of cronyism and undue benefits to certain companies have gained traction, potentially impacting the AAP’s image, especially as it harbors national ambitions.