Cannot call anyone for your 'fishing & roving' exercise: AAP after Kejriwal skips ED summons

Aam Ami Party (AAP) has strongly criticised Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in an alleged liquor policy scam, alleging it to be a "political conspiracy" and asserting that a "fishing and roving exercise" cannot be allowed.

In a media briefing, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharwaj expressed party's concerns and raised several key points. He stated, "Today, ED has summoned Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. CM h responded to m via a letter. He has highlighted a few important things. First, it is not clear under what capacity ED has summoned CM. It is not clear wher y have summoned him as a suspect or a witness. Second, ED has not clarified wher y have summoned Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi CM, AAP convenor, or as an individual."

Bharwaj went on to express his apprehension, "Third, this is a worrisome thing, and I have been saying this since October 29. 'Arvind Kejriwal will get a summons and will be arrested'—how does Manoj Tiwari know this? In his interview, how could Manoj Tiwari know that ED will summon Kejriwal? This suggests that entire conspiracy is political. Is Manoj Tiwari a director of ED?"

AAP leer emphasised context of upcoming elections, saying, "Five elections are going to polls. AAP is contesting elections, and Kejriwal is leer of a national party. He is campaigning everywhere. You cannot summon anyone for your fishing and roving exercise." He ded that even during British government's rule, such rights did not exist.

Kejriwal skips ED summons

Notably, on Thursday, Arvind Kejriwal did not appear before Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a case related to excise policy and wrote to agency demanding withdrawal of notice summoning him, claiming it was "illegal and politically motivated."

" said summons is not clear as to capacity in which I am being summoned i.e. as a witness or a suspect in above-mentioned case. Please recall said summons, which is, to say least is vague and motivated and I am vised, unsustainable in law," Kejriwal stated in his letter to Jogendar, Assistant Director, ED.

AAP supremo furr alleged that said summons appears to be politically motivated and issued for extraneous considerations.

"Simultaneous to summons, in afternoon of 30.10.2023, BJP leers started making statements that soon I would be summoned and arrested. By evening of that day, I received your summons. It is thus apparent that said summons was leaked to select BJP leers to malign my image and reputation and has been issued at behest of ruling party at Centre," his letter re.

In response to Bharwaj's remarks, BJP leer Sambit Patra stated, “Arvind Kejriwal is running away from ED summons; he is running away from facing truth... Not appearing before ED, before agency, in a way shows fear, shows acceptance that 'Yes, I have me a mistake'.”