Kejriwal files counter affidavit in SC
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has filed a counter affidavit in the Supreme Court in response to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) submissions, wherein the probe agency had claimed that a total of over 170 mobile phones were changed/destroyed by accused with others during the period of alleged excise policy scam.
Kejriwal, in his affidavit, has refuted the ED’S claims of evidence destruction or disappearance concerning mobile phones, saying that there is no evidence to support such allegations against him.
The Aam Admi Party (AAP) supremo has condemned his arrest as politically motivated, arguing that it unfairly advantages the ruling party during the ongoing elections, compromising the principle of “free and fair elections.” He labelled the ED’S claims of “large-scale destruction of evidence” as baseless and devoid of merit, calling them as a desperate attempt to rationalise his unlawful arrest.
The chief minister has criticised the ED’S conduct, accusing them of high-handedness and a disregard for due process.
The AAP leader portrayed the case as a prime example of the central government’s misuse of agencies like the ED to suppress political opponents. He reiterated his stance that the ED’S actions were part of a concerted effort to undermine the AAP and its leaders.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Kejriwal, held a roadshow in New Delhi.
In the last hearing, the top court had issued notice to ED and had ordered Kejriwal’s special leave petition to be listed in the week commencing April 29 for further hearing.
The apex court had asked the federal antimoney laundering agency to file its reply by April 24 and allowed the petitioner side to file a rejoinder affidavit, if any, by April 27.
The affidavit filed by ED’S Deputy Director said that Kejriwal’s petition was devoid of merit and his arrest was necessitated due to his “total non-co-operative attitude.” The affidavit said that Kejriwal was avoiding interrogation by not remaining present before the investigating officer despite being summoned nine times and while recording his statement under section 17 of the PMLA he was avoiding answering questions by being evasive and totally non-cooperative.
Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court (SC) challenging the dismissal of his plea by the Delhi High Court (HC).