New Delhi, April 1: Legal proceedings have intensified in the money laundering case linked to Delhi’s liquor policy. The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party and former Chief Minister, on Wednesday.
This notice was prompted by a petition from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), challenging the trial court’s decision to acquit Kejriwal.
The case relates to the non-compliance with summons issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). After hearing the ED’s arguments, Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma noted that despite prior notices, Kejriwal failed to appear in court. Consequently, the court ordered the issuance of a new notice and requested the trial court’s records. The next hearing is scheduled for April 29.
Zoheb Hussain, the lawyer representing the ED, argued in court that the trial court made a significant error by acquitting Kejriwal. He stated that the documents on record clearly show that the summons issued under the PMLA were valid and accepted. He also contended that documents not in dispute do not require separate proof.
This appeal was filed against a ruling by the Rouse Avenue Court, which had acquitted Kejriwal of charges related to non-compliance with summons. The court determined that the evidence available was insufficient to proceed with a case against him. This decision was made by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal.
The ED alleged that Kejriwal did not appear before the agency despite five summons issued on different dates. The agency emphasized that the non-compliance by a high-ranking official sets a poor precedent, necessitating action in this case.
Moreover, the case gains further significance as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also approached the Delhi High Court regarding the corruption case tied to the same liquor policy. The CBI has challenged the trial court’s ruling that acquitted Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 23 other accused individuals.
The trial court, in its detailed order, stated that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case and that there was no substantial doubt against the accused.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal has also approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Delhi High Court Chief Justice’s rejection of his request to transfer the case to another bench. In his petition, Kejriwal argued that not transferring the case raises legitimate concerns about the fairness of the proceedings. Additionally, he has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against some comments made by Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
Leave a Comment