Published on: March 28, 2024 at 16:35 IST
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal finds himself entangled in a legal saga as he remains in custody over corruption charges related to an alleged liquor policy scam. Sent to the Enforcement Directorate for a further four days, his ordeal extends until April 1st.
Kejriwal’s arrest earlier this month came following the Delhi High Court’s refusal to intervene. Subsequently, ED officials conducted raids at the Aam Aadmi Party leader’s residence, leading to his custody. Despite seeking relief from the Supreme Court, he withdrew the plea citing unfavorable precedents. Consequently, he was remanded to ED custody for a week.
With the expiration of this custody period, Kejriwal now finds himself embroiled in legal battles. He has moved the Delhi High Court against his arrest, alleging violations of his fundamental rights by the probe agency. However, immediate relief was denied, and the court has summoned a response from the Enforcement Directorate by April 2nd. The court proceedings are slated to resume on April 3rd.
Moreover, a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking Kejriwal’s removal from the post of Chief Minister on grounds of his arrest has been dismissed by the court. Acting Chief Justice Manmohan refrained from commenting on the issue’s merits, deeming it beyond the purview of judicial interference.
In a dramatic turn of events, Kejriwal was granted permission to address the court directly today. He delivered a passionate speech, accusing the probe agency of attempting to suppress his party. Notably, he emphasized that no evidence pertaining to the alleged ₹100 crore bribery scandal had been recovered and that no court had found him guilty.
The heart of the controversy lies in the alleged liquor policy scam, wherein the Enforcement Directorate contends that the policy provided exorbitant profit margins, a portion of which allegedly funded the AAP’s electoral campaigns. Despite being labelled a key conspirator, Kejriwal and his party colleagues, including ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, have vehemently denied the allegations.
This legal saga has not gone unnoticed politically, with both the AAP and the opposition lambasting the BJP-led central government for what they perceive as a targeted attack using central agencies ahead of the general elections. The AAP has criticized Kejriwal’s arrest as a ploy to disrupt his campaign plans. As the legal proceedings unfold, the fate of Arvind Kejriwal and his political career hangs in the balance.