Liquor Excise Policy Case: Delhi Court summons CM Kejriwal over non-compliance

The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has issued summons to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for a hearing on February 17, 2024, following his repeated non-compliance with Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons related to the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case. 

The ED initiated legal action after Kejriwal failed to appear for the fifth consecutive summon on February 2. 

Subsequent summons on December 21 and multiple occasions in 2024 were met with similar responses, with Kejriwal opting for political rallies and a meditation retreat instead of complying with the investigative procedures.

Kejriwal, who deemed the summons ‘illegal’ accused the BJP of orchestrating a plan to destabilize the Delhi government by seeking his arrest. 

The case revolves around the Delhi excise policy of 2021-22, initially aimed at revitalizing the liquor trade but later scrapped due to allegations of irregularities, leading to a CBI inquiry. 

The ED probe has implicated AAP figures, resulting in the arrest of key party members, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh.