Delhi Excise Scam: High Court Denies Relief to Arvind Kejriwal

On Wednesday, March 20, the Delhi High Court has refused to grant immediate relief on the petition filed by Arvind Kejriwal challenging Summons issued by ED. Despite the arguments of Kejriwal’s lawyers, the High Court has asked the ED to state its stand and has directed the next hearing of the case on April 22.

Earlier, ED lawyers told the court that in the petition of Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, some provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act have also been challenged, which is not maintainable because according to the Act, ED proceedings cannot be challenged. Can be given.

A bench headed by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait gave two weeks’ time to the ED to file its reply on this aspect.
Actually, ED had sent ninth summons to Kejriwal against which his lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared before the court. Along with protection from arrest, he also raised the question before the court whether political parties come under the purview of money laundering law.

The court asked Abhishek Manu Singhvi why Arvind Kejriwal is not appearing before the ED despite continuously sending summons.

On this, Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the investigating agency intends to arrest him. Therefore, there is a need for protection from arrest, because elections are near and they may be deprived of the campaign of their candidate and party.

Earlier, Kejriwal had repeatedly refused to appear before the ED in response to these summons, terming them illegal.
It is also said that before Arvind Kejriwal, all the people whom ED called for questioning have been arrested. Among those arrested, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are still in jail.