Delhi CM gets bail over skipping ED summons in excise policy case
The Rouse Avenue Court has granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a case relating to his skipping of Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) summons in the Delhi excise policy matter. The CM has been asked to furnish a personal bond of Rs 15,000 and a security amount of Rs 1 lakh.
According to authorities, Kejriwal violated Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to disobeying any order by a public servant. The ED had told the court that the CM did not appear for as many as eight summons issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Kejriwal will not be required to appear personally at the next hearing, scheduled for April 1. The AAP leader is accused of avoiding questioning by the financial probe agency regarding his role in formulating the excise policy being investigated.
The CM has defended his decision to skip the summons, saying the summons was “illegal” and he was willing to join via videoconferencing only. However, ED has maintained that physical appearance is mandatory under the law.
Top AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, have already been arrested by the ED in the case. Chargesheets allege the accused interacted with the CM during policy drafting. Kejriwal has dismissed the charges as politically motivated.
