Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court on Saturday granted anticipatory bail plea in the excise corruption case. Within hours, the Enforcement Directorate has summoned Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal for the ninth time in the case.
Not only this, Kejriwal has also been directed to appear before the central probe agency office on March 21. But the question arises, will Kejriwal respond to this summons and appear?
Kejriwal appeared before the Rouse Avenue court on Saturday morning in the excise corruption case. The ED summoned him for the eighth time but he avoided it. According to the ED, the AAP chief has been summoned eight times for questioning in the Delhi excise corruption case.
But every time he has defied it. The central probe agency also alleged in the court that Kejriwal had also gone to government functions. The party is also campaigning. But the ED office has not been able to appear!
The day after hearing the ED’s statement, the court said on Thursday that Kejriwal will have to appear on Saturday (March 16). Kejriwal appeared on Saturday following the order.
Kejriwal had applied for anticipatory bail in the court in the wake of the ED’s summons. The court also granted him bail. Within a few hours, however, he was summoned again by the central probe agency.
This is not the first time that the ED has moved court on the same charges. The delhi CM’s plea was filed on February 3 alleging non-cooperation in the investigation after the ED summons was issued for the fifth time in the Delhi excise corruption case.
Justice Divya Malhotra, who was hearing the case on February 7, had ordered that Kejriwal should appear before the court and be held accountable. Kejriwal had appeared in the court in a virtual hearing on February 17. He said he could not appear in the Delhi Assembly on the same day as his government had a vote of confidence. The judge accepted his plea.
Justice Divya Malhotra, who was hearing the case on February 7, had ordered that Kejriwal should appear before the court and be held accountable. Kejriwal had appeared in the court in a virtual hearing on February 17. He said he could not appear in the Delhi Assembly on the same day as his government had a vote of confidence. The judge accepted his plea.