India: Amid reports of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, ED likely to issue fourth summons

India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been looking into the reply sent by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the agency, after the latter rejected the third summons sent to him, and is likely to issue a fourth summons, reported the news agency PTI.

The reports surfaced hours after New Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party leaders claimed that Kejriwal is likely to be arrested on Thursday (Jan 4) and the EDwill raid his home. According to PTI, Kejriwal will be leaving on a three-day Gujarat tour on January 6.

In the early morning of Thursday, security was tightened outside Kejriwal's residence after AAP ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi claimed that the AAP convenor is likely to be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate onJanuary 4.

Kejriwal on Wednesday (Jan 3) refused to appear for questioning in the Delhi liquor policy case following a third summons by the agency.

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Aam Aadmi Party claims Kerjiwal likely to be arrested

Earlier, AAP leaders had claimed that Kejriwal is likely to be arrested after a raid at his home.

Enforcement Directorate, which is the central agency investigating the money laundering angle, called Kejriwal for questioning multiple times.

"News coming in that ED is going to raid @ArvindKejriwal's residence tmrw morning. Arrest likely," wrote senior party leader and Delhi minister Aatishi on X.

Similar posts were shared by senior party leaders Saurabh Bhardwaj, Jasmine Shah and Sandeep Pathak on their handles.

Watch:Delhi CM Kejriwal to attend INDIA bloc meet, to meet TMC Chief & Uddhav Thackeray

Kejriwal has been summoned thrice in the matter but he has refused to comply every time. The first summons was issued in October in which he was asked to appear on November 2. Thesecond summons was sent on December 18 which asked Kejriwal to appear for questioning on December 21.

As per the rules, the ED can issue a non-bailable warrant against him at any time and he can be arrested.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had questioned the Delhi chief minister for nine hours in April 2023. However, they have not named him as an accused in the case.

Kejriwal has insisted that the summons appear "motivated" and claims it remains unclear if they are calling him as a witness or a suspect in the case.

Earlier, Kejriwal, reacting onED summons in a liquor police case, had said, "The truth is that there was no corruption."

"BJP wants to arrest me," he said, referring to the ruling party at the centre.

"My biggest asset is my honesty & they want to dent it. My lawyers have told me that summons sent to me are illegal. BJP's aim is not to probe me, but not to let me campaign for Lok Sabha elections. They want to call me on the pretext of investigation and then arrest me."

(With inputs from agencies)