Supreme Court issues notice to ED on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging arrest
The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in response to a plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, challenging his arrest in the Delhi Excise Policy case. The apex court has directed the ED to reply to the plea by April 24, 2024. Kejriwal had sought immediate relief, citing the first round of electioneering due to begin from April 19, 2024. However, the SC refused to grant an urgent hearing by this Friday, as sought by Kejriwal.
The Delhi High Court had previously dismissed Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest, stating that the ED had sufficient materials to justify the arrest. The case revolves around accusations of corruption and money laundering in the development and execution of Delhi’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently scrapped. The ED apprehended Kejriwal on March 21, after the high court’s denial of protection from coercive measures. The High Court rejected Kejriwal’s plea for release on April 9, citing his lack of cooperation with nine summonses issued by the ED over a six-month period. The court determined that Kejriwal’s arrest was a result of his own non-compliance, rather than “political vendetta”.
The plea has been posted for hearing in the week commencing April 29, 2024. The ED alleges that Kejriwal was the kingpin and key conspirator of the alleged Delhi Liquor Policy scam and there were reasons to believe on the basis of material in its possession that he was guilty of the offence of money laundering. AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are also accused in the case. While Sisodia continues to remain in jail, Singh was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court pursuant to a concession given by the ED.
In related news, three public interest litigations were filed before the Delhi High Court seeking Kejriwal’s removal from the post of Delhi Chief Minister.
