With the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi looming less than seven weeks away, the Supreme Court is set to hear Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today. Kejriwal, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was apprehended on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case related to Delhi’s now-defunct liquor policy.
The move follows the Delhi High Court’s rejection of Kejriwal’s plea on Tuesday. The high court ruled against him, citing evidence presented by the central probe agency suggesting his alleged involvement in formulating the policy and soliciting purported kickbacks amounting to ₹100 crore.
Subsequently, Kejriwal approached the Supreme Court seeking relief. However, due to scheduling constraints compounded by Eid and the weekend, an urgent hearing was not immediately granted. Today, a bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta will convene at 10:30 am to deliberate on the Chief Minister’s petition.
In his appeal against the high court’s decision, Kejriwal contends that his arrest amidst the electoral process is motivated by extraneous factors. He argues that the timing of his arrest, coupled with his status as a sitting Chief Minister, reflects a deliberate attempt to disrupt the democratic process.
Kejriwal characterizes his arrest as an unprecedented assault on democratic principles, particularly the integrity of free and fair elections and the principles of federalism.
Kejriwal’s detention marks the third high-profile arrest within the AAP ranks in connection with the case, following former deputy Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. Singh has since been released on bail.
The ED’s money laundering probe stems from a 2022 CBI case related to alleged irregularities in the excise policy, initiated based on a complaint by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The investigation alleges that senior AAP figures orchestrated a criminal conspiracy during the formulation of the liquor policy, leaving deliberate loopholes to benefit certain licensees. The policy was rescinded nine months after implementation amidst corruption allegations and political controversy.
AAP has vehemently denied the accusations, emphasizing the absence of any incriminating evidence seized during ED raids. Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has condemned the probe as a politically motivated conspiracy, asserting that no illegal funds have been uncovered. He further alleges witness tampering to suit ED’s narrative, denouncing the investigation as the largest political conspiracy in India’s history.