NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday filed his reply to the Enforcement Directorate’s affidavit in the Supreme Court, stating that there is no proof that AAP received funds or advanced bribes in connection with the ongoing investigation into the liquor policy. In response, the AAP chief said that the mode, manner and timing of its arrest just before the announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha election schedule and the entry into force of the Model Code of Conduct proves the arbitrariness of the ED.
The jailed Delhi Chief Minister further claimed that there is no evidence or material to show that AAP received funds or advanced bribes from the South group, let alone used them in the Goa election campaign.
“Not a single rupee has been linked to AAP and the allegations made in this regard are devoid of any physical evidence, making them vague, baseless and devoid of any corroboration,” Arvind Kejriwal said in his statement.
Kejriwal also accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of “improper action” in a money laundering case arising from an alleged excise policy scam. In response to the ED’s affidavit reply to his petition challenging his arrest in the case, Kejriwal said he had always cooperated with the investigation.
The national president of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said that the ED, in its affidavit filed in the high court, had stated that one of the reasons that led to his arrest was the fact that he did not appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) despite being summoned nine times.
Kejriwal said the ED had stated in its reply that in such a case, the IO was justified in forming the opinion that interrogation in a custodial center would lead to an interrogation of the accused that was “qualitatively more oriented towards the extraction of information”.
“The above tone, text and content of the response leave no doubt that the ED has behaved in the most arrogant manner, constituting a gross insult to the due process of the court,” he said.
Kejriwal further claimed that a cumulative reading of the ED’s position in its reply would reveal a “terrible and blatant lie” in the conduct of its proceedings. The AAP supremo said the records show that every summons issued to him was duly responded to, with efforts being made to obtain relevant details and information which the ED cannot under any circumstances consider privileged or confidential.
Kejriwal claimed that the ED never mentioned any alleged lack of cooperation on his part. “What was the requirement not to call the petitioner (Kejriwal) either through an authorized agent or seek information or documents from him in writing or in virtual mode and insist on his physical presence is not forthcoming,” it said .
Kejriwal maintained that his plea merited consideration and he was entitled to immediate release.
