The Delhi High Court issued a fresh notice to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday, responding to pleas from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging his acquittal in two separate cases linked to his non-appearance before the agency. This decision arrived following the court’s findings that a previous notice had not been served to the former Delhi chief minister.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court addressed the situation, stating that a notice issued to Kejriwal on April 1 remained unattended. The ED’s counsel noted that no representation had been made on behalf of Kejriwal, prompting the judge to declare, “Registry reports that (he is) not served. I will issue fresh notice. Respondent has not been served.”
The matter has been scheduled for hearing on July 22, continuing the scrutiny over Khubriwal’s response to the summons. The ongoing investigation revolves around Kejriwal’s alleged defiance of multiple summonses linked to the controversial excise policy.
The ED’s allegations paint a picture of Kejriwal intentionally avoiding participation in the investigation, reportedly raising frivolous objections and deliberately creating hurdles to impede the probe.
In earlier submissions to the High Court, the ED’s counsel criticized the trial court’s decision, claiming it committed “a grave error” by acquitting Kejriwal despite clear evidence that summons were correctly issued and received. The court ruled in its order on January 22 that the ED failed to substantiate claims of intentional disobedience by Kejriwal.
The trial court’s ruling asserted, “Neither the service of summons through emails has been proved by the ED nor the process of issuing summons to any person under Section 50(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) via email has been established in accordance with the law.” These hearings shed light on serious allegations against Kejriwal, specifically his purported connections with other accused individuals in the formulation of the now-repealed excise policy, which allegedly benefitted these individuals unduly.
Kejriwal currently enjoys interim bail concerning the money laundering case. The Supreme Court has also suggested that the question of the “need and necessity of arrest” under the PMLA be deliberated by a larger bench for comprehensive consideration.
Adding to the ongoing legal controversies, on February 27, the trial court decided to discharge Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 other individuals associated with the liquor policy case, stating that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case lacked credibility and scrutiny.
The CBI’s plea challenging this discharge is still pending in the Delhi High Court, indicating that the legal battle is far from over for Kejriwal and other associated parties.
