Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 1: The Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Delhi chief minister, has been served notice by the Delhi High Court following a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging his acquittal in cases related to alleged non-compliance with summons under the excise policy money laundering matter.

A single-judge bench headed by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed the issuance of fresh notice after noting Kejriwal did not appear despite advance service. Counsel for the ED, Zoheb Hossain, argued that the trial court had erred in acquitting Kejriwal, emphasizing that summons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) were duly served and that undisputed documents need no formal proof. The High Court has scheduled further hearing on April 29.

The ED’s appeal follows the acquittal granted by the Rouse Avenue Court, which had found insufficient evidence to prosecute Kejriwal for allegedly skipping five separate summons issued under Section 50 of the PMLA. The agency had warned that non-compliance by a high public official could set a problematic precedent.

This development coincides with parallel proceedings in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) excise policy case. The CBI has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the discharge of all 23 accused, including Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, after the trial court held that the prosecution failed to establish even a prima facie case.

Separately, Kejriwal has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court of India seeking transfer of the CBI plea from Justice Sharma’s bench, citing apprehensions over impartiality, and has also filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against certain observations made by the High Court during the hearing of the CBI’s revision plea.

The case continues to unfold amid heightened scrutiny of both PMLA and excise policy proceedings in Delhi.