NEW DELHI: Hours after the Delhi high court refused to grant any relief to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal from questioning in the Delhi excise policy probe, a team of Enforcement Directorate officials on Thursday reached his official residence to carry out searches and question him, people familiar with the development said.

The people cited above said Kejriwal’s residence was being searched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by the ED team.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit back at the government over the ED action. Delhi finance minister Atishi questioned the Enforcement Directorate’s hurry to turn up at the chief minister’s house when the high court was still to decide his petition. “It is clear that this is just a political issue and PM Narendra Modi wants to put Arvind Kejriwal in jail,” Atishi told reporters.

The ED action came after the high court refused to grant interim protection from arrest to Kejriwal over summons issued to him in connection with its money laundering probe linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

“After hearing both the parties, we are not inclined to grant the relief at this stage,” a bench of justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain said in the order. The court also asked Kejriwal why he had not approached the lower court seeking anticipatory bail if he apprehended arrest.

ED claims that AAP leaders received kickbacks worth ₹100 crore in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

Kejriwal has skipped nine summons issued by the federal agency since November 2 last year.

Kejriwal has skipped nine summons issued by ED — on November 2, December 22, January 3, January 18, February 2, February 19, February 27, and on March 4 and 21 — calling them “illegal and politically motivated”. He has also repeatedly and consistently objected to the summons, stating that it was not clear whether he was asked to appear before ED as a witness or suspect; as chief minister or as AAP chief; and without any details on the line of questioning.

An ED officer said Kejriwal’s questioning was “important” to know more about the conspiracy in the excise policy, in which ₹100 crore was allegedly paid by a lobby of businessmen and politicians — referred to as the South Group — to AAP leaders in lieu of liquor licences.

The federal agency last Friday arrested Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, and a court subsequently remanded her in ED custody till March 23.

AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said no one was being allowed to go inside the chief minister’s residence. “It appears that they are fully prepared to arrest the CM. The people of Delhi are watching, we will not remain silent,” Bharadwaj said.

Atishi said people from all over Delhi would come on streets if attempts to arrest Arvind Kejriwal were made. “The people of Delhi love Kejriwal and consider him as their family member,” Atishi said, reiterating that the ED case was a political conspiracy.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal echoed her. “Arresting him just before the elections in a case that has been going on for two years shows political conspiracy… The whole of Delhi and the whole country is with Kejriwal”.

(With inputs from Jignasa Sinha, Alok KN Mishra and Paras Singh)