New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal has been acquitted in two cases related to alleged non-compliance with Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons in the Delhi liquor policy investigation.
A Delhi court dismissed the complaints filed by the Enforcement Directorate, holding that the agency failed to prove valid service of summons and could not establish that Kejriwal had wilfully avoided investigation.
The order was passed by the Rouse Avenue Court, where Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal observed that summons issued via email do not meet the legal requirements under either the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) or the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The court noted that the ED did not demonstrate compliance with Section 50 or Section 52 of the PMLA, nor did it establish that electronic service of summons was legally permissible. Even if the agency’s claims were assumed to be true, the court said, the procedure adopted was contrary to law.
Rejecting the ED’s argument that Kejriwal had deliberately ignored repeated summons, the court held that the prosecution failed to prove intentional defiance. It also observed that at the time, Kejriwal was the sitting Chief Minister and enjoyed the fundamental right to movement, which could not be curtailed without proper legal procedure.
As a result, Kejriwal was acquitted of offences under Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code, which relates to non-compliance with lawful summons.
Reacting briefly to the verdict, Kejriwal posted “Satyameva Jayate” on social media. Several AAP leaders welcomed the ruling, while political opponents pointed out that the core liquor policy corruption and money-laundering cases remain pending.
It is important to note that this acquittal does not amount to a clean chit in the main Delhi liquor policy case, which has been under investigation since 2022. Proceedings related to the framing of charges in the corruption case are still underway, with the next hearing scheduled for February 7 before the special CBI court.
Senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, who were earlier arrested in the same matter, have also faced prolonged legal proceedings. Kejriwal himself is currently on bail in the broader case.
Legal experts say the ruling underscores the importance of strict procedural compliance by investigating agencies, even in high-profile cases.
Disclaimer: This verdict pertains only to ED summons-related complaints and does not affect the ongoing trial in the Delhi liquor policy corruption and money-laundering cases.
