Delhi HC Sets Stage for Kejriwal’s Showdown Against ED Arrest

In the upcoming session at the Delhi High Court, a plea submitted by Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, contesting his apprehension by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the purported liquor policy scandal, will be reviewed. Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was detained on March 21 and detained in the custody of the ED until March 28 by a Delhi court.

Kejriwal approached the high court last week with his petition, arguing that his arrest and subsequent detention by the ED were unlawful, and sought immediate release. However, sources indicate that his plea for an expedited hearing was declined due to the closure of the high court for the Holi festival. The trial court had previously extended Kejriwal’s custody to the ED until March 28, citing the necessity for thorough questioning.

The ED took Kejriwal into custody shortly after the high court declined to shield him from coercive measures by the federal anti-money laundering agency. Kejriwal had previously petitioned the court to invalidate all proceedings against him, including summonses. In his plea, he asserted his role as a vocal critic of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), his status as an opposition leader, and his affiliation with the INDIA bloc. He further alleged that the ED, under the control of the central government, had been weaponized.

The case revolves around alleged malfeasance and money laundering associated with the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently annulled. Key AAP figures Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are currently in judicial custody in connection with the case. Kejriwal’s involvement has been repeatedly mentioned in the ED’s chargesheets, with the agency claiming that the accused collaborated with him to devise the excise policy, resulting in undue advantages for them in exchange for kickbacks to the AAP.