Kejriwal skips third ED call, sparks massive row

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday skipped the third summons issued to him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy, pushing to a crescendo the raging political row over the issue between leaders of the city's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is in power at the Centre.

- Alok KN Mishra

In a letter to the federal agency dated January 3, Kejriwal gave reasons for skipping the summons and described ED's actions as "opaque" and "motivated". This prompted the BJP to accuse the CM of being a "kattar beimaan" (staunchly corrupt); AAP leaders hit back with charges of "political vendetta".

This comes at a time when the AAP has publicly expressed apprehension that Kejriwal may be arrested by ED just as former deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh have been and ran a campaign seeking public feed back on whether he should resign as CM if taken into custody.

Kejriwal skipped two previous summonses on November 2 and on December 22, and in letters to ED at the time raised multiple objections principal among them that it was not clear whether he was summoned as a witness or suspect; as chief minister or as AAP chief; and without any details on the line of questioning.

In Wednesday's letter, he alleged that the summons were "issued for vexatious considerations", appeared to be "in the nature of fishing and roving enquiry", and ED's actions smacked of "unwarranted secrecy" by not providing a response to legal objections raised by him in the past.

Kejriwal, however, said that he would offer all cooperation in any investigation that is fair and as per law, cited several reasons for why he was busy with party and government activity, and suggested that a questionnaire be sent to him instead of a personal appearance at the ED office.