Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday termed the summons issued to him by the Enforcement Directorate as “illegal and false” and asked if corruption had happened in the excise policy case, then where did the money go.

The AAP convenor’s statement came amid intense speculation since morning that he could be arrested by the agency in the case after having skipped the summons a third time on Wednesday.

Addressing a media conference, Kejriwal said the repeated summons were “illegal” and it was a conspiracy by the BJP-led Centre to hinder his campaigning before the Lok Sabha polls.

“If corruption has really happened, then where have all those crores of rupees gone? Did all the money disappear into thin air? The truth is that there was no corruption of any kind. If it had happened, then the money would also have been received,” Kejriwal said.

Earlier in the day, AAP leaders claimed that the roads leading to Kejriwal’s residence had been blocked and policemen deployed at all gates as the ED was “gearing up” to raid and arrest him. Delhi police source, however, said the security around the chief minister’s house was beefed up to “manage” journalists who had gathered there since morning after party leaders claimed that Kejriwal would be raided and arrested.