Delhi Excise Policy Scam: HC Asks ED To Respond To Kejriwal’s Plea

Arvind Kejriwal

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directs Enforcement Directorate (ED) to respond to a petition by Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, challenging summons issued to him in connection with an alleged excise scam and money laundering case.

Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri declined to stay the ongoing trial, noting that the trial court’s order being challenged was issued two months ago, not recently.

The court issued a notice to the ED regarding Kejriwal’s petition, which contests the summons issued on the agency’s complaint. Kejriwal’s counsel argued that the complaint was procedurally flawed, as one officer had issued the summons while a different officer filed the complaint. Kejriwal is challenging a September 17 order from a sessions court that had rejected his plea against the summons.

The ED’s counsel objected to the maintainability of Kejriwal’s petition, noting that Kejriwal had already appealed to the sessions court regarding a previous magisterial court order directing him to appear in response to the ED’s complaint.

Kejriwal has contested the summons after the magisterial court acknowledged two complaints filed by the ED, which allege that he repeatedly avoided appearing despite multiple summonses. These summonses are tied to the ED’s investigation into a money laundering case linked to the now-canceled Delhi excise policy.