New Delhi: In less than seven weeks before the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court today. Kejriwal, a prominent figure of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was apprehended on March 21 in connection to a money laundering case related to Delhi’s defunct liquor policy.
Following the rejection of Kejriwal’s plea by the Delhi High Court earlier this week, the matter has now escalated to the Supreme Court. The high court dismissed his petition, citing evidence provided by the central investigative agency suggesting his alleged involvement in devising the policy and purportedly seeking kickbacks amounting to ₹100 crore.
Subsequently, Kejriwal pursued relief in the Supreme Court, which initially could not schedule an urgent hearing due to the court’s closure for Eid and the weekend. Today, a bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta will convene at approximately 10:30 am to consider the Chief Minister’s plea.
In his appeal against the high court’s decision, Kejriwal contends that his arrest, particularly amid the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, is motivated by ulterior motives. He argues that apprehending a sitting Chief Minister during an election period is a deliberate attempt to subvert democratic principles, including fair elections and federalism.
Kejriwal’s detention marks the third instance of a senior AAP figure being arrested in connection to this case, following the former deputy Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. While Singh has been granted bail, Sisodia and Kejriwal remain under investigation.
The ED’s inquiry into money laundering stems from a 2022 CBI investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the excise policy, prompted by a complaint from Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. It is alleged that AAP leaders orchestrated a conspiracy during the formulation of the liquor policy, leaving intentional loopholes to benefit certain licensees. The policy was revoked nine months later amidst accusations of corruption and ensuing political controversies.
AAP has vehemently refuted these allegations, emphasizing the absence of any incriminating evidence discovered by ED officials during their raids. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has criticized the investigation, alleging coercion of witnesses to manipulate statements in favor of the ED’s narrative. He characterizes the situation not as a money laundering probe but as a monumental political conspiracy in Indian history.
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