Delhi HC seeks ED response on Kejriwal’s plea in excise policy case

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea by AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal challenging a sessions court order that upheld summons issued to him in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja issued notice to the ED, directing it to file a counter affidavit within six weeks. The case is set for hearing on September 10.

At the hearing's outset, ED’s counsel raised a preliminary objection, arguing that Kejriwal’s petition, filed under Section 482 of the CrPC, was effectively a second revision petition and therefore not maintainable. The court asked the ED to include all objections in its reply.

Kejriwal has contested two earlier orders: a September 17, 2024, ruling rejecting his revision plea against a March 7 summons and a December 20, 2024, order upholding a magistrate’s refusal to transfer the case to another court. The High Court has also sought ED’s response to the second petition.

The ED noted that Kejriwal had challenged the special court order after nearly 10 months. While the trial court had granted him bail on June 20, 2024, the High Court stayed the order following ED’s objection. Later, on July 12, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail and referred key questions regarding arrests under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to a larger bench.

The ED’s case stems from a CBI FIR filed after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena recommended a probe into alleged irregularities in the 2021–22 Delhi excise policy. Investigators allege policy modifications were manipulated to extend undue favours to certain licence holders.

The Delhi government had implemented the policy in November 2021 but withdrew it by September 2022 amid mounting allegations of corruption.

(inputs from PTI)