ED Will Arrest Arvind Kejriwal: AAP Leader Atishi Over Summons To Delhi CM In Liquor Excise Policy Case

Amidst the ongoing verbal sparring concerning the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons to Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy case, Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi asserted on Tuesday (31 October) that the central agency intends to apprehend the Chief Minister when he presents himself before them, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi harbors fears from Kejriwal.

Kejriwal has received a summons to appear before the ED on Thursday for questioning regarding a money laundering case tied to an alleged excise policy scandal. Upon his deposition before the investigating officer in Delhi, the agency will proceed to record his statement.

"We have received information that on 2 November, when Arvind Kejriwal appears before the ED, he will be detained and incarcerated," Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi claimed according to Times of India.

Atishi also contended that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the PM aim to eliminate the AAP, asserting, "Arvind Kejriwal's potential arrest is not rooted in any case against him but rather in the Prime Minister's trepidations. The BJP and PM Modi recognise their incapacity to outperform the AAP in elections. Consequently, they are resorting to imprisoning AAP's leaders as a means to eliminate the party."

This marks the first instance in which Kejriwal has been summoned by the ED. He had previously been questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with this case in April.

Meanwhile, Saurabh Bharadwaj, an AAP leader, emphasised that party members and workers are unafraid of incarceration, emphasising, "It is evident that the central government is determined to dismantle the Aam Aadmi Party. Their intent is now to incarcerate Arvind Kejriwal."

In a related development, the Supreme Court, on Monday, rejected two distinct bail petitions from Manish Sisodia in relation to corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scandal. The Court noted the tentative establishment of a transfer of Rs 338 crore in this matter.