The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, 18 March, in the alleged Delhi Jal Board case, according to a report by news agency IANS.
The party further questioned why the ED sends summons when bail has been granted by the court. "Why does the BJP want to contest elections hiding behind the ED when Kejriwal is repeatedly sent summons despite bail from the court?" said AAP.
Earlier on 17 March, Delhi Minister Atishi said, during a press conference, that the ED has summoned Kejriwal in two cases: one related to the alleged liquor excise policy scam and the other involving a Delhi Jal Board case.
Kejriwal was reportedly asked to appear before the probe agency on 18 March, in connection with the DJB case, and on 21 March, in connection with the liquor excise policy case.
Atishi said that Kejriwal received another summons on the same day when the Lok Sabha 2024 election dates were announced, in connection with a "false" case related to the DJB.
She further alleged that this was a deliberate attempt by the BJP to target its political adversaries through agencies like the ED and CBI.
“The essence of the statement is that there's a lack of clarity regarding the Delhi Jal Board case, which is seen as a tactic to hinder CM Kejriwal's campaign for the Lok Sabha elections by potentially arresting him,” said Atishi.
The ED is investigating alleged illegal tendering and money laundering within the Delhi Jal Board.
AAP released its response in a statement on ED's allegations against Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the Delhi liquor case, saying that they were attempting to malign the image of Kejriwal and Sisodia by planting falsehoods and creating daily media sensations, thereby attempting to manipulate the public.
"ED's statement, which presents no new facts or evidence, speaks volumes of its frustration since they have not recovered a single rupee or piece of evidence in this case, despite carrying out over 500 raids and questioning thousands of witnesses," the statement said.
(With inputs from IANS.)
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