Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, declined the Enforcement Directorate’s summons to appear for questioning in relation to the liquor excise policy case on Monday for the seventh time.
In response to Kejriwal’s summons from the central law enforcement agency, the Aam Aadmi Party said, “The Enforcement Directorate should wait for the court’s decision instead of sending summonses every day.” It is to be noted that Delhi court will hear the case on March 16.
AAP further added, “Will not quit the INDIA alliance no matter how much pressure the Modi government exerts.” In order to challenge the National Democratic Alliance, which is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, in the Lok Sabha elections, the Opposition INDIA group was established last year.
The party said on Saturday that Kejriwal was being pressured to leave the opposition alliance by the BJP-led Union government, which was allegedly utilizing central agencies.
Following Kejriwal’s sixth consecutive refusal to appear at the summons, the Aam Aadmi Party referred to the central agency’s move as ‘illegal’ on February 19. The chief minister of Delhi had previously stated that before sending out any more summonses, the agency ought to await the court’s decision on the case.
On February 3, following Kejriwal’s fifth disregard for the summons, the central agency filed an application with a Delhi court.
The Central Bureau of Investigation’s first information report, which claimed anomalies in the Delhi government’s alcohol excise policy, served as the foundation for the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation.
In November 2021, the policy went into force. On July 30, 2022, it was retracted when Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena suggested investigation into the purported anomalies in the government.
The Aam Aadmi Party government allegedly changed the liquor excise policy to guarantee a 12% profit margin for wholesalers and a nearly 185% profit margin for retailers, according to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.
Additionally, according to the Enforcement Directorate, Aam Aadmi Party leaders received at least Rs 100 crore in bribes from members of the so-called South Group, facilitated by businessman Vijay Nair.
Due to the case, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, two prominent Aam Aadmi Party leaders, are presently in jail.
