No Interim Protection To Arvind Kejriwal From ED's Coercive Action In Liquor Policy Case, Delhi High Court Refuses To Pass Order

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal did not get any relief in the liquor policy case as the High Court refused to grant him interim protection from the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) coercive action.

The ED has issued nine summonses to Kejriwal in the case. The latest summons asked him to appear today (21 March). However, the Delhi CM has skipped all nine summonses till now.

He moved the Delhi High Court challenging the summons yesterday. "You are a citizen of the country, the summons is by name only. Why don't you appear," the Bench asked.

The bench comprising Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Manoj Jain refused to pass any order after hearing both sides and allowed ED to file a response to Kejriwal's plea seeking interim relief.

ED's response on the maintainability of the Delhi CM's plea against the summons is set to be heard tomorrow. Kejriwal has been calling these summonses illegal and politically motivated.

ASG SV Raju representing the ED said that Kejriwal was being called for interrogation in his personal capacity, not as Delhi CM or Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener.

As per LiveLaw, he also clarified that the summons is not for arrest but interrogation. However, he did not deny the possibility of Kejriwal being arrested after the interrogation.

Earlier on Saturday, a Delhi court had granted bail to Kejriwal on two non-compliance complaints filed by the ED against him for skipping summonses.