Excise policy case: ED team at Kejriwal's residence hours after HC denies protection from coercive action

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

A team of Enforcement Directorate officials on Thursday questioned Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence in the national capital in connection with the excise policy case.

The ED sleuths went to Kejriwal's residence to serve him summons in the case. The team also informed the staff at the chief minister's residence that it has a search warrant.

The ED action comes hours after the Delhi high court refused to grant the AAP convenor any protection from coercive action in the case.

Meanwhile, AAP has moved the Supreme Court challenging the HC order denying Kejriwal protection from arrest.

Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, who has rushed to Kejriwal's residence, said that grounds are being prepared to arrest the chief minister.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) placed before the court the documents pertaining to the probe and said there was material to show the necessity to call Kejriwal for questioning.

#WATCH | Enforcement Directorate team reaches Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's residence for questioning: ED pic.twitter.com/kMiyVD6vhf

— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2024

The agency has issued as many as 9 summons to Kejriwal. However, the Delhi chief minister has refused to appear before the probe agency, alleging that there's a clear intent to arrest him before the Lok Sabha elections.

AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are already in judicial custody in connection with the case.

Kejriwal's name has been mentioned multiple times in the chargesheets filed by the ED.

The agency has alleged that the accused were in touch with Kejriwal for formulating the excise policy that resulted in undue benefits to them in return for which they paid kickbacks to the AAP.

(With inputs from agencies)