The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning on December 21 in connection with its probe into alleged money laundering in the excise policy case, in what appears to be a significant change of tack. After he declined to attend on November 2 due to his concern over assembly elections, he has now received two summonses.
The summons were sent out the day before AAP national convener Ramesh Kejriwal was scheduled to depart on a 10-day Vipassana retreat at an undisclosed location. Upon questioning AAP national treasurer N D Gupta, who appeared before the agency on December 9, the agency decided to call Kejriwal instead of filing the chargesheet, as was previously thought, according to media reports.
Sources attributed the change of stance to a “rethink” prompted by the opinion that Kejriwal’s questioning should be a logical corollary of the ED's stand in the Supreme Court that it was also examining AAP’s role in the case.
Kejriwal had skipped the first summons last month by stating that he was involved in the campaign for the recently concluded assembly elections. Whether he shows up on December 21 would be intriguing to see. When contacted, AAP stated that legal advice would be considered before making a decision.
With the elections over, Kejriwal’s non-appearance, if he chooses to skip the summons again, will be treated as being evasive.
Two of Kejriwal’s senior colleagues - former deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh - are in judicial custody for allegedly receiving bribes from the liquor cartel that is accused of allegedly having paid £10 million to AAP and its leaders.