Excise policy case: Kejriwal skips ED summons for 7th time
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday skipped the seventh summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said since the matter is in court, the agency should wait for the verdict, which will be pronounced after the March 16 hearing. It has said that the multiple summonses served to Kejriwal were "unwarranted."
Why does this story matter?
Earlier this month, the ED approached a Delhi court after Kejriwal skipped multiple summonses in the investigation. In the court, the CM had said that he will physically appear before it on the next date of hearing—March 16. Notably, his refusal to appear before the ED raises the possibility of him becoming the first sitting Delhi CM to face arrest.
ED's investigation into excise policy
According to the ED, the agency has to record Kejriwal's statements on issues like the formulation of the now-scrapped 2021-22 excise policy and allegations of bribery, among others. In a chargesheet filed in the case in December 2023, the ED claimed that the AAP used kickbacks worth Rs. 45 crore generated via the policy for its 2022 Goa Assembly poll campaign.
Kejriwal has already skipped 6 summonses
On February 19, Kejriwal skipped the ED's sixth summons in the matter. Alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s government at the Centre was using federal agencies to target the AAP, the party has so far denied all charges leveled by the ED. To note, the Delhi CM has not been named as an accused in the case.
What is the Delhi excise policy?
In November 2021, the Delhi government implemented the revamped liquor excise policy for 2021-22. However, it decided to scrap it less than a year later amid extensive corruption allegations. Central investigation agencies alleged that wholesaler profit margins were artificially boosted to 12% from 5%. However, the Kerjiwal-led Delhi administration denied the charges and said the policy would have increased revenue instead.
