Mr Kejriwal skipped the Enforcement Directorate’s summons for the third time on Wednesday.
New Delhi:
In his response to the Enforcement Directorate after he skipped its summons in reference to the liquor coverage case for the third time, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has stated he’s busy with the Republic Day preparations and Rajya Sabha elections, and can be “joyful to reply” any questionnaire despatched by the company.
In a letter posted by the Aam Aadmi Get together on Wednesday, Mr Kejriwal reiterated his objections that the summons is “motivated and issued for vexatious issues” and stated it isn’t clear whether or not he’s being referred to as as a witness or a suspect within the case.
CM @ArvindKejriwal‘s Response to ED’s Third Summon
Objections reiterated:
👉🏽 Summons are motivated and issued for vexatious issues.
👉🏽 From summons, it isn’t clear as to the capability during which I’m being summoned i.e. as a witness or a suspect.
👉🏽 Summons fail to… pic.twitter.com/Qz2GCu1huR
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 3, 2024
“The summons look like within the nature of fishing and roving enquiry because it doesn’t specify whether or not I’m being summoned as a person or in my official capability as Chief Minister of Delhi or as Nationwide Convenor of AAP,” he added.
The AAP has additionally raised related objections to the summons whereas justifying why the chief minister didn’t seem earlier than the Enforcement Directorate and claimed that the one intention was to arrest him. The BJP has, nevertheless, stated Mr Kejriwal is “shaking in worry” and isn’t showing earlier than the company as a result of he is aware of that he’s the “kingpin” of the alleged liquor coverage rip-off.
‘Held Up’
Stating that the elections for 3 Rajya Sabha seats from Delhi will happen on January 19, Mr Kejriwal stated, “Being Nationwide Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Get together, I’m held up within the course of and run as much as these essential elections.”
He additionally identified that, because the chief minister of Delhi, he was “additionally fairly occupied in planning and preparations for a number of programmes and capabilities for the Republic Day”.
“In such circumstances, I hope that you just shall act as per legislation by transparently and pretty contemplating my objections as raised and indicated in my earlier responses dated 02.11.2023 and 20.12.2023. In the mean time, I’d be joyful to answer any questionnaire when you search any data/paperwork, that are in my data/possession,” the chief minister stated.
Objections
The AAP chief had not appeared earlier than the Enforcement Directorate when he was summoned on November 2 and December 21 as nicely, and two different senior leaders of the get together are in judicial custody in reference to the case. Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was arrested in February final 12 months, and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was taken into custody in October.
Ever for the reason that first summons was issued, there was intense hypothesis that the Delhi chief minister can be arrested by the company after his questioning.
Mr Kejriwal claimed he is aware of of a number of circumstances the place the company had given an in depth rationalization or response to queries by individuals issued summons below Part 50 of the Prevention of Cash Laundering Act, however it had not even acknowledged the receipt of the submissions made by him.
“As a premier investigating company of the nation, the ‘non-disclosure” and ‘non-response’ strategy adopted by you can’t maintain the take a look at of legislation, fairness or justice. Your obstinacy tantamounts to assuming the function of decide, jury and executioner on the identical time which isn’t acceptable in our nation ruled by the rule of legislation,” he stated.
“Vested Pursuits”
“In these circumstances, I subsequently, as soon as once more, urge you to kindly reply to my earlier responses and make clear the place in order to allow me to grasp the true intent, ambit, nature, sweep and scope of the purported inquiry/investigation for which I’m being referred to as,” the AAP chief added.
He additionally alleged that whereas he was prepared to cooperate and help with any investigation, the Enforcement Directorate’s silence confirmed his apprehensions about “sure vested pursuits and extraneous in addition to malafide issues prevailing over any goal, rational, honest or neutral inquiry or investigations”.
The Aam Aadmi Get together has additionally questioned the timing of the summons and stated that it had been despatched with the intention of arresting him.
“Why has the discover been despatched proper earlier than elections? The discover is an try and cease Kejriwal from campaigning within the (Lok Sabha) elections,” the get together stated.
‘Lame Excuses’
Hitting out at Mr Kejriwal, the BJP referred to as him the kingpin of the alleged rip-off. “Outright dishonest and sinister Arvind Kejriwal is shaking in worry and making one after one other lame excuse to skip ED summons,” information company PTI quoted BJP nationwide spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia as saying.
“It will not be unsuitable to say that (Arvind) Kejriwal is afraid in the present day as a result of he is aware of that his arrest is imminent, he’s conscious that he’s the kingpin and has no solutions. That is why he’s making an attempt to evade the method of legislation,” he added.