News Brief
Kejriwal Skips Fifth Summons By ED In Delhi Liquor Policy Case; AAP Targets PM Modi
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to skip the fifth summons in Liquor policy case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)
Kejriwal has been summoned by the central agency for questioning at its Delhi headquarters today (2 February).
He had previously skipper the four summons that ED had issued to him.
Earlier on 19 January, Kejriwal skipped ED questioning, saying that the summons issued by the ED were illegal and its only aim is to arrest him.
Kejriwal, who is also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief, had refused to appear before the probe agency on three earlier summons for 2 November, 21 December and 3 January as well.
Kejriwal did not appear before the ED terming the agency’s 5th summons in the liquor policy case “illegal”, Indian Express reported citing AAP sources.
According to the AAP, Kejriwal will ask for a legally tenable summon from the agency.
AAP has alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s purpose is to arrest Kejriwal and topple the Delhi government.
The AAP has slammed the agency's actions as "politically motivated" and "unlawful".
"PM Modi's aim is to arrest Arvind Kejriwal and topple the Delhi government. We will not allow this to happen," the party said in a statement, NDTV reported.
The AAP chief had been questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the case in April, but had not been made an accused by the agency.
Also Read: 'We Accused BJP Of 40 Per Cent Corruption, Now It Exceeds That': Karnataka Congress Leader
The AAP chief had been questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the case in April, but had not been made an accused by the agency, NDTV reported.
Kejriwal maintains that the summons he received are "motivated", expressing confusion as to whether he is being summoned as a witness or a suspect in the case.
His party has suggested that this is a strategy to prevent him from participating in the upcoming national election campaign.
With three of its leaders -- Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Satyendra Jain -- behind the bars, AAP has long been anticipating the eventuality and has discussed the possible courses of action. They even want Kejriwal to remain the Chief Minister and do his job from jail.
The CBI contends that liquor companies were involved in framing the excise policy, which would have brought them a 12 per cent profit.
A liquor lobby it dubbed the "South Group" had paid kickbacks, part of which was routed to public servants. The Enforcement Directorate alleged laundering of the kickbacks.
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