The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday filed a complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a court in the city for not appearing before it in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam despite being summoned five times.

The complaint was filed before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra, who put up the matter for further hearing on February 7. “Fresh complaint case for non-attendance in compliance of Section 50, PMLA, 2002, received by way of assignment,” the judge noted.

The judge heard the part arguments and adjourned the matter. “This is a fresh complaint case. Submissions heard. Put up for remaining submissions/ consideration on February 7, 2024,” the judge said.

Kejriwal on Friday skipped the fifth summons, which the ED issued to him on Wednesday. He had chosen not to appear before the federal anti-money laundering agency in spite of four earlier summonses over the last four months, calling them illegal.

Kejriwal, also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor, does not hold any ministerial portfolio in the city government. The politician had earlier written a letter to the ED terming the summonses as “illegal and politically motivated”. He alleged they were aimed at preventing him from campaigning in elections.

Delhi Police serves notice over MLA poaching claims

Meanwhile, the officials of Delhi Police Crime Branch have sought a reply from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal within three days. A team of cops on Saturday reached the residence of CM Kejriwal once again as notice is given to only the person on whose name it has been issued, sources said.

This comes after the office of the Delhi Chief Minister claimed that they are ready to receive the notice but the officials of Delhi Police’s crime branch are not giving him a receiving note for the same. Notice only handed to person on whose name it has been issued: Delhi police after CMO’s claims

The Delhi Police came to serve notice to the chief minister in connection with the Aam Aadmi Party’s allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to buy AAP MLAs. AAP leaders however claimed that the Police officials had refused to give a recieving note when Arvind Kejriwal’s office offered to accept the notice.

“This is so embarrassing for Modi Govt. BJP is totally exposed today. Yesterday, all BJP spokespersons alleged CM offfice did not receive police notice. Today, they are exposed. Police ACP deliberately not delivering notice to CM office” AAP Minister and MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

Earlier on Friday, apart from Kejriwal, the police officials, seeking evidence, also knocked on the doors of AAP minister Atishi’s residence. However, as per sources, both the AAP leaders were not present at their respective residences.The Aam Aadmi Party has accused the BJP of trying to topple the elected Delhi government through a campaign dubbed “Operation Lotus 2.0”.