Kejriwal likely to be arrested after ED raid today: AAP ministers tweeted
Delhi, January 4, 2024 – A late-night alarm was raised by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, claiming they had received information about the Enforcement Directorate (ED) planning a raid on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. The ministers suggested that the raid, scheduled for Thursday morning, could lead to Kejriwal’s arrest.
The revelation comes after Kejriwal, for the third time, skipped the ED summons related to the alleged liquor scam, citing duties related to the Rajya Sabha election and Republic Day preparations. The BJP responded sharply, questioning Kejriwal’s actions and accusing him of avoiding ED’s inquiries.
The BJP’s official response included tweets questioning Kejriwal’s intentions and suggesting he should face the ED rather than skipping summons. The party also highlighted the imprisonment of Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, AAP leaders implicated in the Liquor Excise scam.
Kejriwal’s refusal to appear before the ED and the subsequent claims by AAP ministers have added fuel to the political fire. The BJP criticized Kejriwal’s absence and asked why he hadn’t approached the court if he believed the ED summons were illegal.
Kejriwal, in his defense, labeled the summons as “motivated and issued for vexatious considerations.” He argued that it was unclear whether he was being called as a witness or a suspect in the excise policy case. The AAP questioned the timing of the summons, suggesting it was a deliberate attempt to hinder Kejriwal’s election campaigning.
The ongoing political turmoil coincides with the launch of the second phase of the “Main Bhi Kejriwal” campaign. The AAP claims to have sought public feedback on whether Kejriwal should resign if arrested or continue to govern from jail. The party asserts that the public has overwhelmingly favored Kejriwal staying in office.
Kejriwal’s letter to the ED reiterated his busy schedule, involving preparations for Republic Day events and planning for various programs as Chief Minister of Delhi. The case against Kejriwal is rooted in an FIR by the CBI, alleging irregularities in the formation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy (2021-22), which was withdrawn amid corruption allegations.
