NEW DELHI: Days after the detention of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot in connection with the excise policy case.
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Gahlot, aged 49, who serves as an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA representing Najafgarh, holds portfolios including transport, home and law in the Delhi government led by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who is currently in custody over the matter.
Gahlot has been asked to appear for questioning in the now scrapped excise-policy case and getting his statement recorded. He has been directed to present himself for questioning and to provide his testimony under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Arvind Kejriwal, presently in ED custody since March 21, faces allegations related to money laundering associated with Delhi’s excise policy.
The Rouse Avenue court in Delhi has extended his custody till April 1, following his appearance in court at the conclusion of the ED’s custodial period.
Gopal Rai, an influential leader from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a minister in the Delhi government, announced on Friday that several prominent figures from the INDIA alliance would participate in a rally at Ramlila Maidan on March 31 to express solidarity with Kejriwal.
Leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Bhagwant Mann, Champai Soren, Tejashwi Yadav, and Sitaram Yechury are among those confirmed to join the gathering, Rai confirmed.
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However, amidst the show of solidarity, the Hindu Sena lodged a fresh petition in the Delhi high court seeking Kejriwal’s removal from his post. The petition urges the court to direct Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor to dismiss Kejriwal and place Delhi under the administration of the Central Government via the LG’s office.
In response to the extension of Kejriwal’s custody by the local court until April 1 in connection with a money laundering case related to the Excise Policy, his wife Sunita Kejriwal launched a WhatsApp campaign titled ‘Kejriwal ko Aashirwaad’. The campaign aims to garner public support for the beleaguered Chief Minister.
During the court proceedings, Kejriwal vehemently contested the allegations against him, asserting that the ED’s investigation aimed to undermine the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He emphasized that despite the case spanning two years, no allegations have been substantiated.
Simultaneously, the INDIA bloc is set to stage a protest outside the BJP headquarters in the national capital. The demonstration, scheduled for tomorrow, will see participation from Congress, AAP, and Left parties, denouncing Kejriwal’s arrest and demanding justice.
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The developments surrounding Kejriwal’s arrest have sparked both political fervor and public debate, underscoring the significance of the upcoming rally and protests as expressions of solidarity and dissent in India’s political landscape.
