New Delhi
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday agreed to review a petition by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, challenging the complaints filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his failure to comply with summons in the alleged liquor policy scam.
A bench led by Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued a notice to the ED and asked them to respond by December 19.
The ED had filed two complaints against Kejriwal in March after he did not appear in response to summons issued before his arrest on March 21. The ED claimed that as a senior public official, his disobedience would send a negative message to the public and accused him of offering excuses to avoid compliance.
In response, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) issued fresh summons to Kejriwal. The AAP leader moved the sessions court, which declined to stay the summons. Subsequently, Kejriwal was granted bail on a bond of Rs 50,000.
Before the High Court, Kejriwal contended that the ED’s complaint should not have been filed by an officer of the same rank as the one who issued the summons, citing Section 195 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Earlier, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal bail in the related corruption and money laundering cases.
