The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate on a plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, challenging a lower court order that upheld summons issued to him in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
Justice Ravinder Dudeja asked the ED to file its reply within 6 weeks. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing on September 10.
ED Disputes Maintainability Of Petition
Appearing for the ED, counsel for the agency raised a preliminary objection, arguing that Kejriwal’s petition was legally untenable. The ED claimed the plea was essentially a second revision disguised as a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC, which deals with the inherent powers of the High Court.
The court, however, directed the agency to include all its objections—including the preliminary one—in its written response.
Kejriwal Challenges 2 Orders
Kejriwal’s plea challenges 2 specific rulings: one dated September 17, 2024, by a special court that dismissed his earlier challenge to a magistrate’s March 7, 2024, order summoning him; and another dated December 20, 2024, that upheld a magistrate’s refusal to transfer his case to a different court.
The High Court also issued a separate notice in the second petition related to the transfer of proceedings, and directed the ED to respond to that as well.
Allegations & Background
The case against Kejriwal stems from alleged irregularities in the Delhi government’s 2021-22 excise policy, which was introduced in November 2021 and withdrawn less than a year later amid corruption allegations. The ED’s investigation is based on a CBI FIR filed after the Delhi Lieutenant Governor recommended a probe.
According to the ED and the CBI, the policy was manipulated to favour certain liquor vendors, with financial kickbacks allegedly routed through intermediaries. The ED claims that proceeds from these deals were used to fund political activities.
Kejriwal was granted bail by a trial court on June 20, 2024, but that order was stayed by the High Court on the ED’s application. On July 12, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to the Aam Aadmi Party chief, while referring key questions regarding arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to a Constitution Bench.
Kejriwal, who has denied all wrongdoing, maintains that the case is politically motivated.
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