Shruti Suman
The Delhi Court has issued a notice to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal regarding the Enforcement Directorate’s complaint that he did not comply with summons related to an alleged liquor scam. The Rouse Avenue Court in the capital has summoned Kejriwal to appear on March 16 in response to the second complaint filed by the ED.
The Enforcement Directorate lodged the second complaint against Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly disregarding previous summonses in the purported Delhi liquor policy money laundering case. This complaint has been filed under specific legal sections pertaining to non-attendance as per the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, among others.
Following submissions by the Additional Solicitor General representing the ED, the matter has been scheduled for consideration on Thursday by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Divya Malhotra.
Previously, the ED had filed a complaint against Kejriwal, resulting in summons being issued to him. In response, Kejriwal appeared virtually before the court but cited scheduling conflicts due to ongoing legislative sessions and expressed his intention to appear physically at a later date.
Senior Advocate Ramesh Gupta, representing Kejriwal, sought an exemption for his client from appearing in court on the specified date and assured physical presence on the next scheduled hearing.
The court granted the exemption for the current hearing and set March 16, 2024, for Kejriwal’s physical appearance.
In a previous instance, the Rouse Avenue Court had taken cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate’s complaint against Kejriwal on February 7, 2024, regarding non-compliance with summonses related to the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case.
Kejriwal had agreed to virtually appear before the ED after March 12, a decision seen as a compromise to prevent any potential illegal arrest, according to statements made by Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj
