The Enforcement Directorate (ED) moved the Delhi High Court on Monday, 30 March 2026, to challenge the acquittal of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in two cases concerning his alleged non-compliance with investigative summons. These cases were filed after Kejriwal skipped multiple summonses issued by the agency during its probe into the now-scrapped 2021-22 Delhi excise policy.
The move comes after a trial court ruled in January 2026 that the ED failed to prove “intentional disobedience” beyond reasonable doubt. While the AAP leadership maintains the summonses were politically motivated, the ED contends that such non-compliance by a high-ranking public official sets a damaging precedent for the rule of law.
Legal Battle Intensifies Over Alleged Non-Compliance
The appeal, scheduled to be heard by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Wednesday, seeks to overturn the January 22 verdict delivered by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal at the Rouse Avenue Court.
In that ruling, the court cleared Kejriwal and AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, stating that the material on record did not warrant prosecution under Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code (non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant).
The ED had argued that Kejriwal’s refusal to appear despite five separate notices constituted a deliberate attempt to stall the investigation. In its petition, the agency stated, “If a high-ranking public functionary like him disobeyed the law, it would set a wrong example for the common man.”
The Backdrop Of The Excise Policy Probe
The controversy stems from allegations of procedural lapses and kickbacks in the implementation of Delhi’s 2021-22 liquor policy, which the Lieutenant Governor initially flagged in July 2022. The ED’s money-laundering investigation alleged that the policy resulted in undue benefits to private vendors, with funds purportedly diverted for political campaigning.
Kejriwal was arrested in March 2024 and spent several months in Tihar Jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in September 2024.
Throughout the proceedings, Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party have consistently labelled the summonses as “illegal” and “politically motivated,” arguing they were designed to hinder the party’s governance and electoral prospects.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that for a democracy to thrive, the principles of accountability and the rule of law must be applied equitably to every citizen, regardless of their political stature. While the independence of central agencies is vital for tackling corruption, it is equally essential that legal processes do not become instruments of political attrition.
A healthy democracy relies on a judiciary that remains a neutral arbiter, ensuring that investigations are rooted in evidence rather than optics. We hope for a resolution that prioritises institutional integrity and fosters a culture of transparency over one of perpetual conflict.
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