Several Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Wednesday night expressed apprehensions that party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s home could be raided the following morning, as that he could be arrested.
In a post online, the party’s national general secretary (organisation), Sandeep Pathak, wrote: “Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal likely to be raided tomorrow early morning by ED.”
Minister Atishi, too, made a similar post: “News coming in that ED is going to raid Arvind Kejriwal’s residence tomorrow morning. Arrest likely.”
Senior leader Jasmine Shah wrote that “sources confirm ED is going to raid the residence… tomorrow morning. He is likely to be arrested”.
Sources said party leaders had gone into a huddle to discuss the development. “Senior leaders reached the CM’s House late evening. The news is filtering in as of now,” a senior leader said.
Sources in Delhi Police, meanwhile, said that in light of the social media posts by AAP leaders, they had made security arrangements outside the ED’s headquarters for Wednesday morning.
Kejriwal has been summoned by the ED thrice so far – most recently on December 21.
On Wednesday, Kejriwal cited the Rajya Sabha elections, Republic Day celebrations, and the Enforcement Directorate’s approach of “non-disclosure” and “non-response” as reasons for not appearing for questioning before the probe agency in the excise policy case.
His party colleagues, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and communications in-charge Vijay Nair, were earlier arrested in connection with the case, filed over the now scrapped Delhi excise policy.
In a letter addressed to the ED assistant director, Kejriwal said the Election Commission of India had decided to hold the elections to the Rajya Sabha from the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The nominations started on Wednesday, and voting will take place on January 19, he said.
He further wrote that he would “be happy to respond to any questionnaire” if the ED sought any information or documents in his possession.
Kejriwal was issued the first summons in October, wherein the ED asked him to appear for questioning on November 2. The second summons were sent on December 18, asking him to appear on December 21. The third summons asked him to appear on Wednesday.
Each time, Kejriwal questioned the validity of the summons and skipped questioning. While referring to the two letters sent to the agency in the past, he said it was a “matter of concern” that no response was received.
In his previous responses, Kejriwal had called the summons “motivated” and alleged they were “issued for vexatious considerations”. He also asked in what capacity he was being summoned – “as a witness or a suspect”.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 04-01-2024 at 00:35 IST
