Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, has been a prominent figure in Indian politics, known for his anti-corruption stance and as the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Over the years, he has faced various controversies and legal battles stemming from his activism and political actions.
On 21st March the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested the Delhi Chief Minister and the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as the conspirator in the Delhi excise policy case, for which since December 2023 he had been issued multiple summons by the ED. Earlier on the same day the Delhi High Court had already refused the grant of Anticipatory bail.
Background-
It was after the arrest of K Kavitha, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao the ED on 18th March for the first time alleged the Delhi CM as the conspirator in this case and revealed that Ms K Kavitha along with others conspired with the top leaders of AAP including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia for getting favours in the Delhi excise policy formulation and implementation. In exchange for these favours, she was involved in paying Rs 100 crore to the leaders of AAP,” alleged the ED spokesperson on Monday. “By the acts of corruption and conspiracy in the formulation and implementation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, a continuous stream of illegal funds in the form of kickback from the wholesalers was generated for AAP.
On 21st March, 2024 the ED issued the 9th summon for the appearance of Delhi CM and the same was refused yet again. Subsequently, the Delhi High Court denies him protection from arrest, leading to the arrival of an Enforcement Directorate team at his residence and arresting him.
And the late at night, the AAP’s legal team moved to the Supreme Court late at night to quash the arrest and asked for an urgent hearing.
22 March 2024 –
At a midnight press conference, Delhi ministers Atishi, Rai and the AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak condemned how Mr. Kejriwal was arrested. And the AAP part leaders were protesting in the early hours against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
To tackle the situation the Delhi Police on the same morning beefed up security with heavy personnel deployment and multi-layer barricading on roads leading to BJP headquarters where AAP leaders and workers will stage a protest against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
On the other hand following the due process of law in terms of arrest, A team of doctors arrived at the ED office for the medical examination of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal.
On the same morning ie. On the morning of 22.03.2024, Senior Advocate A.M. Singhvi on Friday mentioned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal‘s arrest before the CJI Bench, challenging it.
The CJI asked him to go before a Special Bench led by J. Sanjiv Khanna, who had convened to hear K. Kavitha’s case against arrest in the Delhi excise policy.
However, Justice Khanna’s Bench had risen by the time Mr. Singhvi made it to that courtroom.
In the meantime, Following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi Assembly has cancelled the sitting scheduled for March 22. The Assembly will now meet at 11 a.m. on March 27. And as the AAP leaders staged a protest against the BJP over the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case.
The two Ministers were lodged in a police bus as officials asked protesters at the ITO intersection. All this lead to A massive traffic jam near ITO Chowk, Raj Ghat and Vikas Marg as the roads leading to the BJP headquarters and Enforcement Directorate office were shut due to the AAP’s protest. The police have put up barricades on roads leading to DDU Marg shut several roads for vehicular movement in central Delhi and advised commuters to avoid Krishna Menon Marg, Motilal Nehru Marg, Janpath, and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road.
Arrival of CM at the Court
Prior to the arrival which was scheduled at 2 pm on the same day (22.03.2024), Kejriwal’s counsel in the Supreme Court said he intends to withdraw the petition challenging arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. He said that since remand proceedings before the trial court will be clashing with the Supreme Court hearing, he be allowed to withdraw the plea. At 2 pm Delhi CM Kejriwal arrived at the Rouse Avenue court in New Delhi. He is being produced before the court by the ED to obtain his remand for custodial interrogation in the money laundering case. Special judge Kaveri Baweja is presiding over the appeal.
Zoheb Hossain, the Special Counsel for ED, told the trial court that ASG S.V. Raju will be appearing for the agency. Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi is representing Mr Kejriwal. Where the ED sought 10 days remand to interrogate Arvind Kejriwal. The agency has presented the Delhi Chief Minister before a trial court in Delhi, presided by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja.
Also, a petition has been filed before the Delhi HC seeking the removal of Arvind Kejriwal as the Chief Minister of Delhi. The plea said a Chief Minister accused of a financial scandal should not be permitted to continue in public office in the late afternoon around 4:00 pm – 22.03.2024.