ED issues Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal 7th summons in excise policy case

The Enforcement Directorate has issued seventh summons to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal in the Excise Policy case.

Kejriwal has been asked to depose on February 26 and record his statement in the excise policy linked money laundering case, PTI reported citing sources.

Kejriwal, 55, declined to appear before the federal agency for the sixth time on Monday, with his party claiming that the ED should await the court's decision instead of persistently issuing summonses to the Chief Minister.


A Delhi court on February 17 gave Kejriwal an exemption from appearing in person for the day regarding the complaint filed by ED. The complaint pertains to allegations of Kejriwal disobeying summons in the money laundering case linked to the excise policy.

The court posted the matter for March 16 and Kejriwal's counsel assured the court of his physical appearance that day.

The court also said that from the contents of the complaint and the material placed on record (by the ED), prima facie offence under Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is made out and there are sufficient grounds for proceeding against the accused (Kejriwal).

The ED believes that the local court has prima facie held Kejriwal guilty of "disobeying" the earlier notices issued to him in this case, warranting the seventh summons, official sources said.

The question in front of the court is not about the validity of the summons rather the illegal act on part of Kejriwal of intentionally disobeying the said three summons, the sources had said.

Allegations suggest that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, granting licenses to liquor traders, facilitated cartelization and favored specific dealers who allegedly paid bribes. The AAP has consistently denied these charges. Subsequently, the policy was annulled, and Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe. Following this, the ED initiated a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).