Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has made a significant shift in his stance regarding the ongoing investigation into the excise policy case. In a recent development, Kejriwal has written to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), expressing his willingness to appear before them via video conferencing after March 12 to address questions related to the case.
This marks the first time Kejriwal has indicated his readiness to engage with the ED directly, albeit through virtual means. Previously, he had refused to comply with multiple summonses from the agency, labeling them as illegal and urging the ED to await the court’s decision on the matter.
In his earlier responses to the ED, Kejriwal had proposed answering the agency’s queries through a questionnaire. However, his latest communication signals a departure from this approach.
The development comes as Kejriwal faces a summons from a city court on March 16 in connection with a complaint filed by the ED regarding his non-compliance with previous summonses. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which holds power in Delhi and Punjab, has consistently maintained that the ED should await the court’s verdict instead of persistently issuing summonses.
Accusing the ED of targeting Kejriwal for his refusal to resign from the Opposition’s INDIA bloc, the AAP has demanded that any questioning by the agency be conducted via video conferencing and be telecast live.
In his written responses to previous summonses, Kejriwal had denounced them as politically motivated and aimed at obstructing the AAP’s election campaigns.
Meanwhile, the Kejriwal-led Delhi government is set to present its 10th budget, which is anticipated to prioritize the concept of ‘Ram Rajya’. This budget, considered crucial ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and early Assembly elections next year, is expected to focus on principles such as free and high-quality healthcare, education, and women’s security.
The excise policy implemented by the Delhi government in November 2021 has been marred by controversy, leading to allegations of corruption. Investigations by various agencies have suggested that the policy favored certain individuals and entities, resulting in cartelization and financial irregularities.
While the Delhi government has denied any wrongdoing, several AAP members, including former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, are currently in custody under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the alleged excise policy scam.
