New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday granted former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal four weeks to respond to Enforcement Directorate (ED) petitions challenging his acquittal in two cases related to his alleged failure to appear before the agency despite being summoned in connection with the excise policy case.
Kejriwal’s lawyer appeared before Justice Manoj Jain and informed the court that a vakalatnama had been filed on behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party leader. The counsel said a detailed response would be submitted.
The court directed Kejriwal’s side to file its response within four weeks, indicating that the ED petitions are likely to come up for further hearing in September.
ED challenges trial court order
The ED has challenged the trial court’s January 22 order acquitting Kejriwal in the summons-related cases. The agency had alleged that he deliberately failed to comply with its summonses and did not join the investigation.
The trial court, however, held that the ED had failed to establish that Kejriwal had intentionally disobeyed the summonses issued to him.
The court had also observed that the agency had not established that summonses served through email were legally valid under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Other ED plea likely to be listed
The High Court also indicated that an ED petition challenging the trial court’s order granting Kejriwal bail in the excise policy-linked money laundering case could be listed in September.
Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the ED, sought a longer adjournment, citing the pending proceedings before the Supreme Court concerning Kejriwal’s interim bail.
The Supreme Court had earlier granted Kejriwal interim bail while referring questions concerning the “need and necessity of arrest” under the PMLA to a larger bench.
Meanwhile, the CBI’s challenge to the trial court’s decision in the broader excise policy case remains pending before the Delhi High Court.
