Excise policy case: Arvind Kejriwal challenges ED summons in sessions court

In a significant development, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has challenged the summons issued to him by the Rouse Avenue Court in the Delhi Excise Policy case in the Sessions Court on Thursday. Rouse Avenue Court had summoned Arvind Kejriwal to appear in the court on 16 March.

What was in his petition? 

Kejriwal has said in the petition that he should be exempted from appearing for March 16 and his lawyer should be allowed to represent him. ED has opposed this petition of Kejriwal. Now the arguments in the case will continue in the court on Friday also.

ED opposed Arvind Kejriwal's plea

The ED on Thursday opposed Arvind Kejriwal's plea against the summons issued in the court, saying that the Delhi CM himself had assured the court that he would appear on March 16. Kejriwal's petition against two separate complaints filed by ED was heard in Rouse Avenue Court. ED has alleged that despite several summons, they are not appearing before the investigating agency in the Delhi Excise Policy case.

Responding to the arguments of Kejriwal's lawyer that the complaint before the court was not filed by the public servant concerned and it is illegal. ASG SV Raju questioned why the CM had given the assurance to the court. The ASG also questioned why Kejriwal challenged the order passed on February 17, just two days before his appearance.

He got transferred after about a month. This is a secret move. Look at their behavior. They are coming to the court for last minute relief. They will have to appear a day before. Arvind Kejriwal had assured the court that he would appear on March 16.

ED earlier moved to magisterial court 

The ED had earlier moved the magisterial court seeking Kejriwal's prosecution for not attending the three summons issued to him in the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. 
Meanwhile, Kejriwal has till date skipped eight summons issued by the agency.