Supreme Court to hear Arvind Kejriwal's plea
Supreme Court is scheduled to hear plea of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and subsequent remand in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta will preside over the hearing.
In his appeal filed with the Supreme Court, Kejriwal characterized his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) just before the general elections as an “unprecedented attack on democratic principles” and urged the apex court to release him by declaring the case against him as “unlawful”. He argued that his arrest, following the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls, was evidently driven by external motives.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is scheduled to visit Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Tihar Jail today around noon, as reported by ANI citing the Aam Aadmi Party.
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 as part of a money laundering probe related to alleged irregularities in the now-defunct Delhi excise policy. Currently incarcerated in Tihar jail, his judicial custody was extended until April 15 during the last hearing.
Previously, Kejriwal had approached the Supreme Court contesting a Delhi High Court ruling that dismissed his plea on April 9. The High Court deemed the ED’s arrest justified, citing sufficient evidence and Kejriwal’s non-cooperation with the probe agency as grounds. It also noted that the timing of the arrest was a consequence of his actions.
“The immediate intervention of this court is necessary, as beyond the issue of unlawful deprivation of liberty, the petitioner’s arrest also represents a significant assault on democratic values, fair electoral processes, and federalism, all of which are integral elements of the Constitution’s basic framework,” stated the plea.
The Delhi excise policy case revolves around alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22. The policy was annulled after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena requested a CBI inquiry, alleging irregularities.
According to chargesheets filed by the CBI and ED, certain AAP leaders purportedly accepted ₹100 crore in kickbacks from politicians and liquor businessmen to grant licenses under the excise policy. The involvement of a ‘South Group’ was highlighted in the alleged irregularities. Additionally, the chargesheets mentioned that all accused individuals were allegedly in contact with Kejriwal to devise the excise policy, resulting in undue benefits for them in exchange for kickbacks to the party.
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