Kejriwal To Skip ED Appearance? Delhi CM Says Probe Agency's Notice "Illegally And Politically Motivated"

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) asking to take back the summons to him in the liquor policy case.

While Kejriwal is expected to be present at the ED office for questioning in the case at 11 am in Delhi, his letter has sparked speculation that he might not appear.

Kejriwal has labeled the ED's notice as "illegal and politically motivated, sent at the behest of the BJP,".

In his letter, Kejriwal has asked the agency, which previously detained his deputy Manish Sisodia, to "take back the notice immediately".

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also alleged the centre wants to arrest Kejriwal in a politically motivated case.

The ED's case against AAP leaders gained momentum following the Supreme Court's refusal of Sisodia's bail plea over a money trail of Rs 338 crore, which the court said has been tentatively established.

This money is said to be the earnings of private parties who got liquor licence under the now-scrapped policy. The investigators consider the earnings as proceeds of crime.

Responding to Kejriwal's letter to the ED, the BJP said the AAP has indulged in corruption and its top leaders should answer questions raised by the court and probe agencies.

"Arvind Kejriwal's claim that it is politically motivated makes no sense. The Supreme Court denied bail to Manish Sisodia, and cited a tentatively established money trail of Rs 38 crore. Even the Congress has accused the Kejriwal government of corruption. Is Kejriwal saying all of them are politically motivated?" BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla was quoted as saying by NDTV.