GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd Jan. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for skipping the third summons by the Enforcement Directorate. The BJP alleges that Kejriwal has a hidden motive for avoiding the investigation.
Shehzad Poonawalla, the national spokesperson for the BJP, stated, “Today, once again Arvind Kejriwal has skipped the third summon. This shows that there is something to hide, and that is why he is absconding like a criminal.”
Poonawalla drew parallels to the denial of bail to Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, highlighting court-established money trails. He said, “Courts have not given bail to Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, and the courts have established that there is a money trail. Despite all this, they are playing the same victim card.”
The Congress party criticized the central agency, accusing it of targeting opposition leaders instead of doing their work.
Udit Raj, a Congress leader, said, “ED is carrying out raids at the associates of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren. ED notices were sent to former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel right before the elections, and false allegations were put on him.”
Kejriwal is also a part of the opposition alliance. Raj stated, “Indeed, these agencies are not doing their work but putting pressure on the opposition leaders.”
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal evaded the Enforcement Directorate summons to appear for questioning in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor scam case.
The ED had issued a third summons to Kejriwal on December 22 last year, asking him to appear before the agency on January 3. Kejriwal expressed his readiness to cooperate with the investigation but declined to appear, calling the notice illegal.
Kejriwal also questioned the timing of the notice, suggesting it was an attempt to hinder his election campaign ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
It is important to note that Kejriwal was not named as an accused in the first information report (FIR) filed by the CBI on August 17 last year.
In February 2023, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi’s new excise policy. The policy was withdrawn amid allegations of foul play by the opposition.
Meanwhile, the ED conducted raids at the premises of the press advisor to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren earlier in the day in connection to an alleged land mining case linked to money laundering.
According to agency sources, raids were conducted at 12 locations, including the residence of the CM’s press advisor.
