New Delhi, 22 January (H.S.): Rouse Avenue Court acquitted former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday in a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for failing to appear in response to summons related to the alleged Delhi excise policy money laundering probe.Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Paras Dalal pronounced the verdict, dismissing the ED's complaint of willful non-compliance.

The ED had lodged two such complaints before Kejriwal's arrest, alleging he deliberately ignored summons issued under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The summons, dated November 2 and December 21, 2023, and January 3 and 18, 2024, sought Kejriwal's examination in the now-scrapped 2021-22 excise policy scam. On February 7, 2024, the court took cognizance of the ED's first complaint, directing Kejriwal's appearance.

Kejriwal had termed the notices illegal.

In the same probe, ED arrested AAP MP Sanjay Singh on October 4, 2024, from his residence post-questioning, and Manish Sisodia on March 9, 2023, from Tihar Jail after ED interrogation (Sisodia initially arrested by CBI on February 26, 2023). All accused, including Kejriwal, have secured bail.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar