Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has requested exemption from appearing before a Delhi court on March 16 in connection with a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate. Kejriwal, who challenged the summons issued to him by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court, urged the court to allow him to be represented by his counsel.
Senior Advocate Ramesh Gupta, representing Kejriwal, requested either an exemption from appearance or a stay on the summons, or to adjourn the matter to a later date fixed by the sessions court. Gupta argued that the complainant in the case is an investigating officer who filed the complaint in his personal capacity, emphasizing that the case has not been registered by the Enforcement Directorate.
Meanwhile, the probe agency sought time to file a reply to Kejriwal's petition. The Rouse Avenue Court had summoned Kejriwal to appear before it on March 16 after the Enforcement Directorate filed a fresh case against him for not complying with previous summonses.
Kejriwal has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that opposition leaders are being "forced" to join the BJP by "harassing" them through the Enforcement Directorate.
Previously, the probe agency had sought Kejriwal's prosecution for not attending the first three summonses issued to him in the money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy. Kejriwal's name has been mentioned multiple times in charge sheets filed by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case, alleging his involvement in the preparation of the excise policy for 2021-22.
In connection with this case, the probe agency has arrested AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, party communications in-charge Vijay Nair, and some liquor businessmen.
