Delhi liquor scam case: Kejriwal summoned by Delhi court on February 17

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was first summoned by the ED in October 2023 to appear for questioning on November 2

A Delhi court on February 7 directed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on February 17 and explain why he had skipped the five summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the alleged liquor policy case.

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) said it is "studying court order... and will take action as per law". Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra of Rouse Avenue Courts passed the order.

The ED had filed its complaint under Sections 190 and 200 of the CrPC for not complying with the summons, section 50 (power to issue summons) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and not cooperating with the investigation. Meanwhile, Kejriwal terms the summons "illegal" and said that he has not been named an accused in the case.

The Delhi CM had not responded to the fifth call by the probe agency on February 2. Former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and AAP communications in-charge Vijay Nair have already been arrested by the ED in this case.

Kejriwal was first summoned by the ED in October 2023 to appear for questioning on November 2.

The Delhi CM can now challenge the Rouse Avenue court order to stay it or can seek relief from personal appearance in the court and appear through a lawyer.