Arvind Kejriwal files fresh plea in Delhi HC seeking no coercive action against him in excise policy case

New-Delhi: The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal filed a fresh plea and asked High Court to direct the Enforcement Directorate not to take coercive action against him in connection to excise policy case.

Arvind Kejriwal said that he is ready to cooperate in the investigation but the Enforcement Directorate (ED) should be prevented from arresting him.

This comes after the agency had issued a ninth summons for the AAP convenor to appear before it on March 21. Kejriwal had skipped all the earlier eight summons from ED.

Yesterday during the hearing in his matter in Delhi HC, his lawyers stated that they have apprehension that ED will arrest him and he is ready to appear if he is given protection.

A division bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain had, on Wednesday, asked CM Kejriwal as to why he doesn’t appear in response to the summons.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal, in response, said that he is not running away and will appear, provided he is granted protection and a “no coercive steps” order in his favour.

Moreover, the court had asked the ED to reply on maintainability of Kejriwal’s plea challenging the agency’s nine summonses issued to him.

The bench put up the matter for hearing on April 22.

Also Read: CM Arvind Kejriwal Moves Delhi HC Against ED’s 9 Summonses