Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made a physical appearance before the Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday regarding the Enforcement Directorate summons case. The court granted him bail concerning the agency’s complaints for missing summonses, marking his first in-person appearance in connection with the case, having previously attended via video conferencing.
The Enforcement Directorate has lodged two complaints against Kejriwal for non-compliance with their summonses related to the Delhi excise policy case. The agency seeks Kejriwal’s statement on policy formulation, pre-finalization meetings, and bribery allegations. Kejriwal, however, contends the summonses are illegal and politically motivated.
#WATCH | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal leaves from Rouse Avenue Court, after being granted bail on a bail bond of Rs 15,000 and a surety of Rs 1 lakh.
The CM appeared before the court following summons issued to him by the court on the basis of two ED complaints in connection with… pic.twitter.com/dPBXR95R4u
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2024
Advocate Ramesh Gupta disclosed, “The court directed him (Arvind Kejriwal) to furnish a bond and surety bond for the sum of ₹50,000. Both bonds were furnished and Kejriwal was allowed to go.” Gupta added that the next proceedings are slated for April 1.
In response, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari stressed Kejriwal’s obligation to adhere to the law. “Following the law is appropriate for a person who has taken the oath of the Constitution,” Tiwari remarked.
Contrarily, AAP leader Reena Gupta dismissed the charges as a political vendetta, asserting, “We have been saying from the start that this is a political vendetta & is a baseless case. No evidence has been found.”
On February 17, Kejriwal appeared virtually before the court. Recently, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate responded to the Enforcement Directorate’s second complaint by summoning Kejriwal for a personal appearance on March 16.
The allegations against AAP leaders extend beyond Kejriwal. The ED, in its sixth charge sheet, implicated AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his associate Sarvesh Mishra, alleging the diversion of ₹45 crore kickbacks from the excise policy for the party’s campaign in Goa’s 2022 assembly elections. AAP members Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are currently incarcerated on similar charges.
The AAP alleges that the Centre is orchestrating these actions to prevent Kejriwal from campaigning in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
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