Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the very day he was expected to appear before the agency regarding its ongoing investigation into the Delhi excise policy case.

In response to the ED's summons on October 30, Kejriwal has called for the withdrawal of the notice, citing its alleged illegitimacy and political motivations. Kejriwal contends that the summons was orchestrated by the BJP with the intention of hindering his election campaigning in four states. He insists that the ED should promptly retract the notice.

It's worth noting that earlier this year, in April, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had summoned Kejriwal in connection with the same case. However, it's important to clarify that Kejriwal was not formally named as a defendant in the initial First Information Report (FIR) filed by the CBI on August 17 the previous year.

In February 2023, Manish Sisodia, Deputy to Arvind Kejriwal, was arrested by the CBI on allegations of irregularities related to the formulation and execution of Delhi's now-defunct excise policy. This policy had faced allegations of misconduct from the opposition and was eventually withdrawn. Sisodia is currently in judicial custody.

On October 30, the Supreme Court dismissed Manish Sisodia's bail request in cases linked to purported irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy case. The court ordered the completion of the trial within six to eight months. Furthermore, the court acknowledged the potential existence of a money trail amounting to 338 crores, although it is yet to be definitively established.

The court also noted that if the trial progresses slowly, Sisodia can reapply for bail after three months. According to the CBI, Sisodia played a pivotal role in the alleged criminal conspiracy and was deeply involved in both the creation and execution of the policy in question, all in pursuit of the objectives of the said conspiracy.

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