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New Delhi: Today, the Delhi High Court is scheduled to review Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petition challenging his recent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). This follows a trial court’s decision to remand him in the agency’s custody for a week. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma will preside over the hearing at 10.30 am.
Arvind Kejriwal’s petition, filed on April 23, addresses his arrest in connection with a money laundering case linked to Delhi’s former excise policy. Initially seeking relief from the Supreme Court, Kejriwal withdrew his petition, opting instead to contest the remand proceedings before the trial court with Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi.
The ED’s probe stems from a 2022 case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), alleging irregularities in Delhi’s liquor policy. Accusations suggest AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, intentionally crafted policy loopholes to benefit select licensees. Notably, AAP members Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, alongside Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha, have faced arrest in this regard.
Kejriwal and his associates have consistently refuted the allegations, attributing them to political motives orchestrated by the BJP-led central government. Criticism extends to accusations of using investigative agencies like the ED and CBI for partisan agendas.
The AAP, emphasizing the arrest’s suspicious timing amidst looming Lok Sabha elections, contends that it aims to impede Kejriwal’s campaigning efforts. Despite his detainment, assurances from AAP ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj affirm Kejriwal’s continued governance, stressing his commitment to Delhi residents’ welfare even from the confines of ED’s custody.
