Delhi High Court Issues Notice to Arvind Kejriwal on ED Plea Challenging Acquittal

New Delhi, April 2026 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has challenged his acquittal in cases related to alleged non-compliance with summons in the Delhi excise policy money laundering matter.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma took note of the submissions made by the federal agency and directed that a fresh notice be issued to Kejriwal. The court observed that despite advance service of notice, there was no representation on behalf of the AAP leader during the hearing. It also ordered that records from the trial court be summoned for further examination. The matter has been scheduled for the next hearing on April 29.

Representing the ED, counsel Zoheb Hossain argued that the trial court had committed a “grave error” in acquitting Kejriwal. He maintained that the evidence on record clearly demonstrated that the summons issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) had been duly served and acknowledged. He further contended that where documents are not disputed, there is no requirement for formal proof, citing established judicial precedents.

The ED’s appeal challenges the earlier decision of the Rouse Avenue Court, where Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal had acquitted Kejriwal in complaint cases filed by the agency. The ED had accused him of deliberately skipping multiple summons issued under Section 50 of the PMLA. However, the trial court ruled that the material presented did not justify prosecution for non-compliance.

According to the ED, Kejriwal failed to appear before the agency despite being served five separate summons on different dates. The agency argued that such non-compliance by a high public office holder could set an adverse precedent and undermine investigative processes.

The case is part of a broader legal battle surrounding the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. In parallel proceedings, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also approached the Delhi High Court, challenging a trial court order that discharged all 23 accused in a related corruption case, including Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. The trial court had concluded that the prosecution failed to establish even a prima facie case, noting the absence of credible evidence or grave suspicion.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal has moved the Supreme Court of India, contesting the decision of the Delhi High Court Chief Justice to deny his request for transferring the CBI matter away from Justice Sharma’s Bench. In his petition, he has raised concerns over perceived impartiality and sought reassignment of the case.

Additionally, Kejriwal has filed a Special Leave Petition challenging certain observations made by Justice Sharma during earlier hearings in the CBI case. In a related development, the Delhi High Court had recently stayed adverse remarks made by the trial court against a CBI officer and the investigating agency while issuing notice on the CBI’s revision plea.

The developments mark another significant chapter in the ongoing legal proceedings linked to the Delhi excise policy, with multiple cases unfolding simultaneously across courts.