New Delhi, Apr 29: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a fresh notice to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in two cases where the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is challenging his acquittal in the excise policy matter for not appearing before it despite summons.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma noted that the earlier notice to the former Chief Minister had not been served, and the ED’s counsel said no one has formally appeared on his behalf even after the notice dated April 1. The judge directed issuance of a new notice and listed the matter for hearing on July 22.
The ED’s complaints stemmed from Kejriwal’s non‑appearance before the agency during the investigation into the scrapped Delhi excise policy, alleging that he intentionally disobeyed summons, raised frivolous objections, and deliberately created grounds for non‑compliance. In the High Court, the ED argued that the trial court had “committed a grave error” by acquitting him despite undisputed proof that summons were duly issued and received.
However, the trial court, in orders dated January 22, held that the ED failed to prove intentional disobedience and ruled that email‑served summons were not validly established under Section 50(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED has also alleged that other accused in the case were in touch with Kejriwal while formulating the policy, which allegedly led to undue benefits and kickbacks to the AAP.
Kejriwal is presently on interim bail in the main money laundering case, with the Supreme Court having referred questions on the “need and necessity of arrest” under PMLA to a larger bench. On February 27, the trial court discharged Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the liquor policy case, holding that the CBI’s case could not survive judicial scrutiny. The CBI’s appeal against this discharge is pending in the High Court.
