Liquor Policy Case: Arvind Kejriwal Summoned For Ninth Time By ED, Day After Getting Bail Against Arrest

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the ninth time in a liquor excise policy case.

The summons to appear on 21 March were issued on Sunday (17 March). This comes a day after Kejriwal got bail from the additional chief metropolitan magistrate of Rouse Avenue Court.

The bail provides him protection from arrest as the ED had complained against him for skipping eight previous summonses issued.

The ED was also asked to hand over the documents of complaints to Kejriwal after the Delhi CM furnished a bond of Rs 15,000 and a surety of Rs 1 lakh.

The court scheduled the next hearing on 1 April. It is noteworthy that this was the first time Kejriwal appeared before the court physically, in connection with the case.

At the last hearing, he appeared before the court via video conferencing.

Earlier, a sessions court declined to halt the proceedings against Kejriwal in a magisterial court, instructing him to seek exemption from personal appearance through the metropolitan magistrate.

The ED had initiated action against Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly disregarding three summonses in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy.

Despite his repeated non-attendance, Kejriwal maintained that the summonses were illegitimate and politically motivated.

While the court declined to halt the summonses, Kejriwal contended that his absence was not deliberate and that his reasons for non-attendance remain valid.