New Delhi/IBNS: A day after snubbing the Enforcement Directorate (ED)s third summon in the liquor policy case, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of political vendetta claiming it wants him to be arrested.
Kejriwal said BJP, which runs the Centre but not in power in Delhi, wants to stop him from campaigning in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls by getting him arrested.
The Chief Minister, who is a staunch opponent of BJP, said the saffron brigade wants to bring an attack on his asset which is honesty.
Kejriwal, who heads the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), said, A lot of my party leaders have been arrested on fake charges. Anyone is picked up and sent to jail. Its an open goondaism.
Now BJP wants to arrest me. My biggest asset is my honesty. BJP wants to defame me by making false allegations against me and attacking my honesty.
ED Summon ?? CM @ArvindKejriwal ?? ?? Important Press Conference l LIVE https://t.co/sIFMLikMBh
AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 4, 2024
Stating his reason behind snubbing the summons thrice, Kejriwal said the notices sent to him were illegal.
I have received summons, which my lawyer has said are illegal. I have explained to ED how the summons are illegal but they havent answered. This means they have no answer and also agree that the summons are illegal, Kejriwal said and added, I will fully cooperate with legal summons.
The summons have been sent before Lok Sabha polls because BJP doesnt want me to campaign in the elections, he said.
The speculation of Kejriwals arrest kickstarted after Delhi minister Atishi posted on X, News coming in that ED is going to raid @ArvindKejriwals residence tmrw morning. Arrest likely.
News coming in that ED is going to raid @ArvindKejriwals residence tmrw morning. Arrest likely.
Atishi (@AtishiAAP) January 3, 2024
The security around Kejriwals residence was beefed up following the ministers claim.
Now as per a report by NDTV, the ED is examining the reply sent by Kejriwal who on Wednesday snubbed the third summon sent to him by the probe agency.
The probe agency is investigating the Delhi excise policy which has handed over liquor shop licences to private players.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleges that liquor companies and middlemen were actively involved in irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Kejriwals colleague in the party, Manish Sisodia, is already in jail in the same case as the prime accused.
In April last year, the CBI questioned Kejriwal as a witness for nine hours, after which he slammed the agency.
The CBI asked me 56 questions (but) everything is fake. I am convinced they dont have anything on us… not a single piece of evidence, he said after being quizzed at its Lodhi Road office.
