The Delhi High Court has directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to provide evidence against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by 2:30 PM today, according to India Today’s report on Thursday. Kejriwal has filed a plea seeking protection from coercive action in a money-laundering case linked to Delhi’s excise policy.
During the court proceedings, the HC queried the central probe agency about the existence of any material against the chief minister. In response, the agency claimed to possess sufficient evidence.
Kejriwal’s petition comes amidst the backdrop of the latest summons issued by the ED, the ninth in the series, asking him to appear before it by 11 AM on Thursday. However, he refrained from complying with the summons, contending their illegality.
On the previous day, the court had questioned Kejriwal’s absence before the agency. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, had asserted that his client would cooperate with the ED but sought protection from coercive measures, citing the agency’s purported intent to apprehend him, especially with elections looming.
In his plea, Kejriwal alleged that the enforcement of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was being misused to manipulate the electoral process in favor of the ruling party at the Centre.
The ED is investigating corruption and money laundering in connection with the formulation and execution of Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently annulled. AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are currently in judicial custody in relation to this case.
In a curious development, conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar recently claimed that Kejriwal would face exposure to a higher level of scrutiny, alleging large-scale corruption involving him and his associates. Chandrashekhar’s letter to K Kavitha purportedly alluded to massive amounts of illicit wealth stashed overseas by Kejriwal and his party.
