Delhi CM Kejriwal skips fifth ED summons in excise policy case

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the controversial Delhi liquor policy even as he led an AAP protest against "BJP's cheating" in the Chandigarh mayoral elections.

BJP, on the other hand, staged a protest near AAP office against alleged corruption by AAP and Kejriwal not appearing before the ED despite summons. AAP claimed that its leaders and workers were put under house arrest ahead of the protest while police said 200 AAP workers were detained when they tried to march towards BJP headquarters.

The AAP termed the ED action as "illegal" and said the repeated summons were an indication that it is going to arrest Kejriwal to prevent him from campaigning in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

This was the fifth time Kejriwal was summoned since November last year, the earlier being on November 2 and December 21 last year and January 3 and January 18 this year. Kejriwal had in repeated letters called the summons "illegal".

Addressing a gathering at the protest against the BJP at his AAP office, Kejriwal said, "If it can 'rig' the Chandigarh mayoral polls, it could go to any extent in assembly and Lok Sabha elections."

He said the "world's biggest party" was caught on camera "stealing" votes in the mayoral polls.

"In the last few years, we have heard that the BJP rigs polls. They tamper with EVMs, get names of voters deleted from voter lists, but never was any evidence found. They were caught red-handed in Chandigarh stealing votes," he said. Punjab Chief Minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann was also present.

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai told reporters that Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal and at least four MLAs and four councillors have also been placed under house arrest.

He demanded a "clarification" from the police on this. AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak claimed Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi was also placed under house arrest.

Delhi Minister Atishi posted on 'X', "Heavy barricading all across Delhi. Buses full of AAP volunteers being detained. Hundreds of para-military forces outside the AAP office...Why is the BJP so scared of a protest about the Chandigarh mayoral elections?"