New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal informed the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that he believes the Enforcement Directorate issued summonses with the intention of arresting him.

In response to his petition challenging the summonses issued by the probe agency in the Delhi excise policy case, the High Court granted the Enforcement Directorate two weeks to file its reply.

During the hearing, the High Court questioned Kejriwal’s lawyer about why Kejriwal had not appeared before the central probe agency.

“Why don’t you appear on receiving the summonses? What is preventing you from attending?” questioned a bench led by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait.

In response, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, expressed, “Elections are around the corner, they [Enforcement Directorate] don’t tell me in what capacity you are calling me. You say come into my parlour”.

The court suggested that Kejriwal would only understand the agency’s intentions once he responds to their summons.

Kejriwal’s legal counsel argued that he requires protection from coercive action due to the agency’s apparent intent to apprehend him with elections looming.

“There should be some protection. They can arrest me once I go,” Singhvi asserted on behalf of Kejriwal.

When the court noted that the probe agency typically doesn’t make arrests immediately, Singhvi pointed to the arrests of AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia in the case, suggesting a change in the agency’s approach.

Singhvi emphasized that Kejriwal has always been cooperative and willing to provide any requested information or documents.

Kejriwal’s plea alleges that the Enforcement Directorate’s summoning him in person is a tactic to unlawfully arrest him, claiming that the agency already possesses all necessary documents and information.

The petition further contends that the use of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is an attempt to persecute and dismantle the democratic and federal structure of the country.

“The attempt is to decimate a political party and topple the elected government of NCT of Delhi. Various other senior leaders of the political party who have been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (“ED”) by using such unconstitutional provisions of the PMLA,” the plea states.

Kejriwal’s petition raises significant concerns regarding the country’s federal and democratic framework, according to his legal team.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 22.