Published 18:32 IST, January 3rd 2024
Arvind Kejriwal’s BIZARRE Republic Day reason to skip ED summons raises eyebrows
Kejriwal, who had previously labeled the summonses as "illegal" and "politically motivated," now claims his preoccupation with Republic Day preparations.
New Delhi: In a peculiar twist to the ongoing Delhi excise policy case, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has, for the third time, skipped ED summons, citing an unexpected reason linked to the Republic Day festivities and Rajya Sabha elections. Kejriwal wrote to the probe agency, asserting his commitment to answering any questionnaire but questioned the "real intent" of the investigation.
Arvind Kejriwal ‘busy’ in Republic Day preparations
Kejriwal, who had previously labeled the summonses as "illegal" and "politically motivated," now claims his preoccupation with Rajya Sabha elections and Republic Day preparations as reasons for evading the federal agency's summons. The AAP chief expressed readiness to respond to any queries if the agency seeks information within his knowledge.
The Aam Aadmi Party alleged the entire excise policy case is politically motivated. The timing of the summons, just ahead of key elections, has raised eyebrows, and the AAP questions whether Kejriwal is summoned as a witness or an accused.
Despite comprehensive responses from Kejriwal, the ED's silence on key aspects led to accusations of maintaining "unwarranted secrecy" and being "opaque and arbitrary" in the matter. The AAP contends that the summonses are an attempt to hinder Kejriwal's involvement in upcoming elections.
BJP alleges Kejriwal’s lack of faith in country’s judicial system
Kejriwal's avoidance of ED summons prompted the BJP to claim he lacks faith in the country's administrative and judicial system. The BJP accuses Kejriwal of evading truth and suggests that if he deems the notices incorrect, he should approach the courts.
While Kejriwal insists on cooperating, the political drama surrounding the case continues, leaving questions about the nature of the investigation and the validity of the Chief Minister's Republic Day excuse.
Updated 13:12 IST, January 4th 2024