New Delhi, March 15 (UNI) The Delhi sessions Court, after hearing the criminal revision petitions filed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, against the summoning order of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Court, reserved its Order on Friday.
The ACMM Court had directed Kejriwal earlier to appear before it on Saturday, on the complaint of Enforcement Directorate (ED) over non-compliance of summons in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy case.
CBI Special Judge Rakesh Syal after hearing arguments on behalf of Counsel for ED and Defence Counsel reserve its order in both the revision petitions.
Kejriwal had moved two criminal revisions petitions ----Cr Rev/4/2024 and Cr Rev/5/2024 against the summoning order of ACMM court, before the Sessions Court at Rouse Avenue, New Delhi.
Counsel for Kejriwal submitted before the court that he has given the reasons against the summons for his absence because having responsibility as a CM in all these days. But ED didn't consider this.
He submitted that it is a summoning trial case and maximum punishment is one month jail term/fine. Therefore, the Counsel requested the Court allow the personal exemption of Kejriwal through counsel.
Counsel for ED opposed the plea of Defence Counsel by submitting that he is a common man and claims to represent the common men. Can he be allowed to make excuses like this? Will a common man be allowed to make such excuses while he claims to represent Aam Aadmi.
Earlier, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra after taking cognizance of Enforcement Directorate (ED) complaint issued summon against Kejriwal for his appearance on March 16.
Government counsel submitted that as per the mandate of Section 50(3) of the Act, the respondent/ proposed accused was legally bound to comply with the summons but allegedly he failed to do so.
He submitted that every non-compliance of the summons issued by a public servant would tantamount to a separate offence.
In this matter, Enforcement Directorate has alleged that the Excise Policy was implemented as part of a conspiracy to give wholesale business profit of 12 percent to certain private companies.
ED has alleged that the accused were in touch with Kejriwal regarding the preparation of the Excise policy for 2021-22.
UNI XC CS