"No Question Of Validity Of Summons, But About Kejriwal's Illegal Act Of Skipping First Three Intentionally": ED Files Complaint

After Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), even after the sixth summons, the agency filed a complaint against him under section 174 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code).

According to ANI, the agency said that Kejriwal intentionally disobeyed the first three summons issued to him. It also said that there is no question about the validity of the summons, which Kejriwal has been calling "illegal".

"The court has taken cognisance of the same thereby court has prima facie accepted that Kejriwal has done an offence for which he is liable to be prosecuted. The question is about Kejriwal's illegal act of intentionally disobeying the said three summons," ED sources said.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal said, "We are giving them replies as per the law. Now, they have filed a case. ED should wait for the court's judgement before issuing any fresh summon," after appearing virtually before a Delhi court on Saturday (17 February).

The matter has been now listed for 16 March as Kejriwal's counsel said that the Delhi CM will appear physically for the next hearing. Kejriwal cited his occupancy with the ongoing budget session and Motion of Confidence for seeking another date.

Kejriwal, who was first summoned in October 2023 and since then has cited various reasons for his non-appearance, including governance-related work in Delhi, a Vipassana session, Rajya Sabha elections, Republic Day celebrations, and a pre-scheduled program in Goa.