This development came after Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal skipped summons for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) thrice including on January 3, December 21, and November which now has made it legally possible for the ED to issue a non-bailable warrant and arrest him.
Amid Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) claim regarding the possibility of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal getting arrested today by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) following his repeated refusal to appear before them, the federal financial investigation agency declined the claim and termed the reports of raids at Arvind Kejriwal’s residence as 'nothing but rumors'. Moreover, as per media reports, the probe agency will summon Kejriwal once again.
Kejriwal, who skipped the third summons by the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday, asserted that he had not been associated with any corruption. "I've explained to ED why their summons is illegal, they have no answer to it", said the Aam Admi Party (AAP) supremo on Thursday.
"My lawyers told me that summons (sent by the ED) is illegal. I sent them a letter explaining in detail why the summons is illegal. However, they are yet to respond to my questions. This means that they also know that the summons is illegal. I am ready to co-operative if legal summons is sent", he added.
Moreover, questioning the time of sending notice for interrogation, Kejriwal also said, "BJP's aim is to stop me from campaigning for Lok Sabha election 2024."
According to PTI, ED is currently examining Kejriwal's five-page reply sent to the investigating officer of the case on Wednesday.
Earlier, Aam Admi Party's senior leader ad Delhi Minister Aatishi took to X and posted, "News coming in that ED is going to raid @ArvindKejriwal's residence tmrw morning. Arrest likely."
In light of the speculation regarding his arrest by ED today, heavy security has been deployed outside CM Kejriwal's residence on Thursday morning.
This development came after Mr Kejriwal skipped summons for questioning by the probe agency thrice including on January 3, December 21, and November which now has made it legally possible for ED to issue a non-bailable warrant and arrest him.
In April, he was questioned for nine hours by the Central Bureau of Investigation. He has not been named as an accused in the case.
Kejriwal deliberately skipped the summons citing that the were politically "motivated" and said it was not clear whether he was being called as a witness or a suspect in the case.
According to the Aam Admi Party (AAP) leaders, the move was a part of stopping him from campaigning in the national election due later this year.
With three of its leaders -- Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Satyendra Jain -- behind the bars, AAP has long been anticipating the eventuality and has discussed the possible courses of action. They even want Mr Kejriwal to remain the Chief Minister and do his job from jail.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), liquor companies were involved in framing the excise policy, which would have brought them a 12 percent profit. After a preliminary investigation, the probe agency inferred that a liquor lobby, dubbed the "South Group" associated with the matter had paid kickbacks, part of which was routed to public servants. The Enforcement Directorate alleged the laundering of the kickbacks.
Leaving no stone unturned to launch an attack on AAP, the BJP alleged that the proceeds of the alleged scam were used by the AAP to fund its large-scale campaign in Gujarat, in which it got 12.91 percent votes and established itself as a national party.
Taking a swipe at Kejriwal for not appearing before ED, the ruling party has said he is "shaking in fear" and is not appearing before the agency because he knows that he is the "kingpin" of the alleged liquor policy scam.