Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has filed a fresh petition in the Delhi High Court demanding no punitive action against him. A division bench headed by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait is hearing the case. ED has so far issued nine summons to him in the Delhi Liquor Policy case. ED has called Kejriwal for questioning today. During the hearing of his case in the Delhi High Court yesterday, his lawyers said that they fear that the ED will arrest them and they are ready to appear if they are given protection.
During the hearing in the court, ASG SV Raju, on behalf of ED, said that this application of Kejriwal should be heard along with the main case. This cannot be heard today, it should be heard along with the main case. On the other hand, Kejriwal's lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that no matter how much time the ED takes to file its reply, no punitive action should be taken against Kejriwal till then. He said that in none of the summons was it mentioned that Kejriwal was being called for questioning as an accused, witness, or CM.
The High Court on Wednesday sought response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging the summons issued to him in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case. At the same time, during the hearing, the court asked Kejriwal's lawyer, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, why the CM was not appearing before the agency for questioning.
Singhvi replied that he feared that the ED would arrest him and that the Chief Minister was ready to appear if he was given security. The bench asked, you are a citizen of the country, the summons is in name only. Why don't you appear? The bench asked the senior lawyer what is the general practice by the ED and whether it arrests people on the first summons itself.
Singhvi said that AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh were also arrested by the agency in a similar manner. This is the new style. Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, said that the petition is not maintainable.
Kejriwal says that he is ready to appear before the ED. If the investigating agency assures that he will not be arrested or the High Court has to order that no punitive action will be taken against him.
ED is a political weapon of BJP: Atishi
Atishi, a minister in the Delhi government, said, 'It is clear that ED is not an independent investigating agency but a political weapon of the BJP. ED is calling Arvind Kejriwal not only to participate in the investigation but also to arrest him. BJP wants Kejriwal not to be able to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections.
At the same time, Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, 'It is clear from the first day that ED is not concerned with the inquiry. Raids were conducted at many places but they did not achieve anything. An application has been filed in the court today to stop the arrest or any such action.
BJP attacked Kejriwal
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said, 'Yesterday also the court had made it clear that you (Arvind Kejriwal) should cooperate with the investigating agency, despite this Kejriwal ji is behaving like this, so I think he is accepting his involvement in the liquor scam. are doing. Arvind Kejriwal should clarify his position before the investigating agency.
BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj said, 'Arvind Kejriwal used to give advice to everyone and boast of his staunch honesty. Whenever you are summoned under the PMLA Act, you have to appear before the agency. What, the thing about the straw in the thief's beard? That's why Arvind Kejriwal is so scared.
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