Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar's remarks came in connection with yesterday's speculation over Delhi CM and Aam Admi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case.
Amid the turmoil over Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal refusing to depose before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for interrogation in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Thursday extended support for Kejriwal over the Enforcement Directorate summoning him and alleged that the Centre was misusing power to discourage those who show dissent.
While addressing the party workers, the veteran politician said in the last 10 years, people have voted Kejriwal to power, adding that Aam Aadmi Party ministers have been jailed and steps were being taken to arrest him as well.
"He has been issued notices to appear before the ED. The chief minister of the country's capital. Everyone in Delhi knows he is a simple man with a clean image. It will not be surprising if he is arrested," Pawar claimed.
"This means efforts are being made to discourage those who do not have similar political views by misusing power," Pawar alleged.
Amid Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) claim regarding the possibility of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal getting arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday 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.
The alleged liquor scam is related to the excise policy 2021-22 that was scrapped by Kejriwal's government last year after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into "lapses and irregularities" in its implementation.