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New Delhi : In the ongoing saga surrounding the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with an excise policy case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court, challenging Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest. The ED contends that despite nine summonses issued to Kejriwal, he evaded interrogation by repeatedly remaining absent before the investigating officer.
According to the ED, Kejriwal’s conduct, in conjunction with the material possessed by the investigating officer, substantiates the grounds for his arrest. The affidavit asserts that Kejriwal’s non-cooperation hindered the investigative process, thereby necessitating his arrest.
The ED maintains that Kejriwal’s arrest was carried out in good faith, devoid of any ulterior motives or malintent. The affidavit emphasizes that treating a politician differently in matters of arrest would contravene the principle of equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution. It argues that the arrest of an individual, irrespective of their stature, based on credible evidence does not undermine the integrity of free and fair elections.
In a parallel legal development, Kejriwal has lodged a plea challenging his arrest and questioning the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He alleges that the arbitrary application of PMLA provisions skews the electoral process in favor of the ruling party at the Centre, thus undermining the principle of a level playing field in elections.
Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 in connection with money laundering allegations related to the Delhi government’s now-defunct excise policy. Subsequently, he was remanded to Tihar jail on April 1. The recent extension of his custody, along with Bharat Rashtriya Samiti (BRS) leader K Kavitha, underscores the gravity of the legal battle unfolding in the Excise policy case.
