The News Freedom
Chandigarh, November 2
Claiming that the notice was “illegal and politically motivated”, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday skipped the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons in excise policy case. Kejriwal demanded ED withdraw its notice served to him. He said that the ED notice was a bid to stop him from campaigning in four states.
In a letter wrote to the ED, Kejriwal said that “please recall the summons, which is to say the least is vague and motivated and I am advised, unsustainable in law.” “The summons does not specify whether I am being summoned as an individual or in my official capacity as Chief Minister of Delhi or as national convenor of AAP and appears to be a fishing and roving inquiry, Kejriwal said while citing various reasons for not appearing before the ED.
He claimed that the summons appear to be motivated and issued for extraneous considerations. “As on October 30, BJP leaders had started making statements that soon I would be summoned and arrested. By the evening of that day, I received your summons. It is thus apparent that the said summons was leaked to select BJP leaders to malign my image and reputation and has been issued at the behest of the ruling party at the Centre,” he alleged.
“1 am the incumbent Chief Minister of the government of NCT of Delhi and national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi and Punjab. The fact that there are 5 states including Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana which are going to election shortly and Election Commission has already announced the dates.” Kejriwal said. “Elections are in November and the results will be announced on 3 December, 2023. Being the national convenor and a star campaigner of the Aam Aadmi Party which is contesting elections, I am required to travel for campaigning and to provide political guidance to my field workers of Aam Aadmi Party.” he added.
Kejriwal said that as the Chief Minister of the state of NCT of Delhi, I have governance and official commitments, for which my presence is required, particularly in view of the Diwali festivities coming up in the second week of November.
The AAP’s three leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and communication in-charge Vijay Nair have been arrested by the investigating agency in the case so far. Previously, Kejriwal was summoned by the CBI in April in the case.