The Delhi High Court issued a fresh notice to Arvind Kejriwal, chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Wednesday regarding pleas from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that challenge his acquittal in two separate cases. These cases stem from Kejriwal’s failure to appear before the ED despite being summoned concerning the excise policy investigation.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma announced the latest notice while noting the registry’s confirmation that a previous notice issued on April 1 had not reached Kejriwal. The ED’s counsel reported that no one had appeared on Kejriwal’s behalf during the proceedings. The judge stated, “Registry reports that (he is) not served. I will issue fresh notice. Respondent has not been served,” and scheduled the next hearing for July 22.
The initial complaints involved the ED alleging that Kejriwal deliberately ignored summonses and raised frivolous objections to hinder the investigation, thereby creating excuses for his absence. The agency argues that such actions constitute a grave disregard for legal processes.
On previous occasions, the ED’s counsel indicated to the high court that the trial court had committed a significant error by acquitting Kejriwal without considering the fact that summons had been formally issued and received. The earlier ruling from January 22 stated that the ED failed to prove Kejriwal intentionally disobeyed the summons. The trial court noted, “Neither the service of summons through emails has been proved by the ED nor the process of issuing summons under Section 50(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) via email has been proved to be in accordance with the law.”
The ED further alleged that other accused in the case maintained communication with Kejriwal while devising the now-retracted excise policy that allegedly resulted in undue benefits and kickbacks to AAP.
Currently, Kejriwal is on interim bail in the ongoing money laundering case. The Supreme Court has referred queries regarding the necessity of arrest under the PMLA to a larger bench for further clarification. This ruling adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigations and related proceedings.
On February 27, the trial court discharged Kejriwal, alongside former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 21 other accused in the liquor policy case, stating that the charges were unable to withstand judicial examination. The CBI’s appeal against this discharge remains pending in the high court.
The developments in this proceedings highlight the ongoing tensions between political figures and investigative agencies, as allegations of corruption and mismanagement continue to plague the administration. The case not only impacts Kejriwal’s political career but also raises questions about the implementation of the excise policy and its implications for the AAP’s governance.
