Supreme Court to hear Arwind Kejriwal's case today
Following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate over allegations related to a liquor policy scam, tensions have escalated with his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) organizing nationwide protests outside BJP offices. The Supreme Court is expected to address Mr. Arwind Kehriwal’s petition against his arrest, following its recent denial of an urgent hearing on his plea against the raids. The Enforcement Directorate is set to present the Chief Minister in court.
Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest, occurring just weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, has sparked protests by thousands of AAP supporters and drawn condemnation from opposition leaders. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is slated to visit Mr. Kejriwal’s family today, according to sources.
The AAP has asserted that Mr. Kejriwal will continue fulfilling his chief ministerial responsibilities from jail, a move that could potentially lead to a constitutional crisis, according to legal experts.
The Enforcement Directorate, investigating potential money laundering aspects of the alleged liquor policy scam, has labeled Mr. Kejriwal as a “conspirator.”
The arrest followed the agency’s visit to Mr. Kejriwal’s residence with a search warrant after he failed to respond to nine summonses. Despite his plea for protection from arrest being denied by the Delhi High Court, Mr. Kejriwal was arrested around 9 pm after undergoing questioning and a search. He spent the night in an ED lock-up after a medical check-up at RML Hospital, with both his and his wife’s phones being confiscated, and data transferred from two tablets and a laptop at his home.
Delhi Minister Atishi has condemned the arrest as a “conspiracy by the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” asserting that Mr. Kejriwal will continue serving as Delhi Chief Minister. The AAP has announced nationwide protests against the BJP, scheduled for Friday, with the Delhi protest planned outside the BJP headquarters.
Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest comes shortly after BRS leader K Kavitha was detained in connection with the liquor policy case, marking the first instance where Mr. Kejriwal was implicated as a conspirator following Ms. Kavitha’s arrest.
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