Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has moved a Delhi sessions court against the summons issued to him by the additional chief metropolitan magistrate, barely a few days before he is to make a physical appearance before the magisterial court over a complaint of non-compliance filed against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Special judge Rakesh Syal of Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court is expected hear the arguments on the application today. Kejriwal was directed to appear before the magistrate on March 16.
ED had approached the magistrate court on February 3 and March 6 with a complaint seeking initiation of proceedings against Kejriwal under Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for not appearing before investigators despite repeated summons issued to him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.
As per Section 174 of the IPC, a person not appearing despite summons issued by a public servant shall be punished with imprisonment up to one month and a fine of Rs 500.
The federal investigating agency has so far issued eight summons to Kejriwal — March 4, February 26, February 19, February 2, January 18, January 3, and December 22 and November 2 last year — asking him to join the investigation into an alleged money laundering case related to the Delhi liquor excise policy case.