Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has chosen not to attend the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) summons for the sixth consecutive time regarding the Delhi excise case. The AAP has criticized the summons as illegal and has urged the ED to halt them, citing the pending court decision, as the ED has already approached the court.
On February 17, Mr. Kejriwal appeared before the Rouse Avenue court through video conferencing to address the ED’s complaint about his failure to comply with the agency’s summons. The court, taking into account the ongoing assembly session, which began on February 15 and is expected to continue until the first week of March, adjourned the hearing until March 16. Despite his absence, Mr. Kejriwal’s counsel assured the court that he would attend the next hearing in person.
The repeated non-compliance with the ED’s summons has sparked controversy, with critics questioning Mr. Kejriwal’s reasons for not attending the hearings in person. The AAP has defended his actions, emphasizing his commitment to fulfilling his responsibilities as the Chief Minister of Delhi, including attending the ongoing assembly session.
The developments in this case have raised questions about the legalities surrounding the ED’s summons and Mr. Kejriwal’s obligations as a public figure. The matter remains unresolved, pending further hearings and the court’s decision on the legality of the summons.