In a significant relief for Aam Aadmi Party’s leadership, a Delhi court has discharged former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from charges related to ignoring Enforcement Directorate summons in the high-profile excise policy probe. The Rouse Avenue Court’s Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal delivered the verdict, marking a setback for the ED’s aggressive pursuit.
The decision came on Thursday, addressing Kejriwal’s alleged non-compliance with summons issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Section 50. The ED had accused him of deliberately flouting these notices in the ongoing investigation into the 2021-22 Delhi Excise Policy irregularities.
This case traces back to a CBI FIR filed on August 17, 2022, stemming from a complaint by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on July 20, 2022. The ED followed up with its money laundering case on August 22, 2022, targeting individuals allegedly benefiting from policy changes favoring the ‘South Group’ cartel, accused of paying bribes to AAP leaders for liquor business control in the capital.
Kejriwal faced five separate summons but chose not to appear, a stance that led to his eventual arrest by the ED. However, the Supreme Court granted him bail after a few months, allowing him to resume political activities amid ongoing legal battles.
Parallelly, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan received similar relief in a separate money laundering case linked to Delhi Waqf Board recruitments. The court found insufficient grounds to proceed against him for skipping ED summons.
This ruling underscores the judiciary’s role in scrutinizing central agency actions, especially in politically charged investigations. As AAP gears up for future elections, this development bolsters Kejriwal’s position, though the core excise policy case continues to loom large. Legal experts suggest it may prompt reviews of similar summons compliance cases across the board.