Arvind Kejriwal arrest: Delhi court remands CM to ED custody

"I will not resign as Chief Minister of Delhi. If needed, I will run the government from jail," he said while speaking to reporters after the Rouse Avenue Court granted his custody to the Enforcement Directorate in the liquor policy case.

Following his arrest last night in connection to the money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy scam, a Delhi court on Friday remanded Delhi Chief Minister (CM) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal into the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) until March 28. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court issued the remand order after considering arguments from both the ED and Kejriwal's legal representatives. The ED had requested a ten-day custody of Kejriwal.

Members of the INDIA bloc convened with the Election Commission of India on Friday (Mar 22), urging the commission to intervene in what they described as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "targeting of opposition leaders" through what they termed the "misuse of central agencies,"

At a press conference in New Delhi, AAP leader Gopal Rai said that a protest march is slated to occur at Shaheedi Park near ITO in New Delhi on March 23. AAP MLAs, MLCs, party officials, and INDIA bloc affiliates will convene at the park at 10 am.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja said that the order could be delayed as it is currently being typed.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh has condemned the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) detention of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, branding it as "political retaliation." Ramesh accused the BJP of fearing the INDIA alliance and characterised the arrest as an assault on democratic principles and the constitution.

“Modiji got your thrice elected chief minister arrested out of arrogance of power. He is trying to crush everyone. This is a betrayal of the people of Delhi. Your chief minister has always stood with you. Whether inside or outside, his life is dedicated to the country. The public knows everything. Jai Hind,” Sunita Kejriwal tweeted.

Shashi Panja, a leader from the Trinamool Congress, denounced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for detaining Arvind Kejriwal, stating it violated the model code of conduct. Panja suggested that BJP's actions, like arresting the Delhi Chief Minister, reflected their frustration over not achieving the 400-seat goal in the Lok Sabha elections.

“Nine times the notices were sent to Arvind Kejriwal, but he didn't join the investigation. He runs away from the investigation, considers himself above the country's law, commits scam worth crores, gives statements to media. The question arises is whether Arvind Kejriwal is above law", said Union Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur

Congress MP KC Venugopal and TMC MP Derek O Brien arrived at the Election Commission of India in Delhi.

West Bengal CM had said that INDIA alliance leaders will meet the Election Commission to raise objection against "deliberate targeting" and "arrests of opposition leaders."

Reports said that the Delhi Court has reserved its order on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's remand in the excise policy case. The central agency has sought 10 days of custody for the chief minister. The court will pass its order shortly. 

Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, representing the Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "We've said that it is an illegal arrest and there was no evidence against him...Arguments from our side are continuing..."

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "These are govt institutions, they'll do what the govt wants. This is the question that in a democracy the institutions work as the instrument and they're working as an instrument to please the BJP... Whoever holds the power uses these institutions. Previously also, whoever was in power used these institutions and now the BJP is doing it ten times more. What remains the credibility of these institutions?..."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday (Mar 22), while responding to a question at Rouse Avenue Court said, “Whether inside or outside, my life is dedicated to the country." 

Singhvi said that Kejriwal's name is not even mentioned in 50 percent of the statements and 80 percent people did not mention any of Kejriwal's dealings in this case.

He questioned what was the need for the ED to arrest Kejriwal in March 2024 and said that the entire remand application is a copy-paste of the written grounds of arrest.

"ED says that further money trail has to be found, how did this become the basis for arrest. This can at best be a basis for questioning, not arrest," the lawyer added. 

"ED now has a new method. First arrest them, then make them government witnesses and get desired statements. In return they get compensation. Democracy is the foundation of the Constitution. Today, an attempt is being made to deliberately make the party inferior to other parties by arresting it before the elections. ED does not have any solid basis to explain why the arrest is necessary." 

Advocate Shashi Ranjan Kumar Singh filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Delhi High Court on Friday (Mar 21), seeking the ousting of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal from the Chief Minister's position in Delhi. 

Now as the ED side has already made its arguments, senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Delhi CM in the case, is presenting his arguments. 

He said that remand is not given just like that and the court has to be convinced. "ED will have to prove how a case is being made here under PMLA," he added. 

Singhvi argued that ED should prove why there is a need to arrest Kejriwal. He argued that if ED has the power to arrest, it does not mean that they will use this power in the same manner.

"It is the first and only time that a sitting chief minister has been arrested... Four senior leaders of his party are arrested... This means before even the first vote is cast, the results are there," the lawyer said added. 

ASG representing ED said that Aam Aadmi Party benefited from this scam and CM Kejriwal is the beneficiary in the same.

He also argued that Kejriwal is not only an accused in this case in his personal capacity, but due to his big role in AAP, he also has responsibility in this case. 

"But the party has no personal status of its own. According to law it will be treated like a company. Whoever is the executive of this company is involved in its functioning.. the blame lies on him in this case too," he said. 

He lamented that Kejriwal has willfully disobeyed the summons. "The conduct of disobeying the summons... At the times of search he did not give correct facts. We need remand so that interrogation can be done," he added. 

Enforcement Directorate told the court that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was not cooperative during the search which was conducted at his residence on Thursday (Mar 21). 

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said, "...BJP indulges in the maximum hate speech in the country... They have stopped the funds of the National Health Mission for AAP's Mohalla clinics... How dare they stop Punjab's tableau and celebrate Republic Day with Punjab's participation... If it was in their control, they would remove the name of Punjab from the National Anthem... They want no opposition leaders to be able to campaign for the upcoming elections... He is walking in the footsteps of Vladimir Putin. This is a dictatorship..."

ASG SV Raju, who is representing the Enforcement Directorate, submits before Rouse Avenue court that the proceeds of crime are not only just Rs 100 crores. Hawala trails of Rs 45 crores were traced, the money was used in the Goa election, as per Raju. 

The ED has called Arvind Kejriwal the kingpin and the key conspirator in the excise policy case. The ED also said that Kejriwal was directly involved in the formation of the excise policy. 

The ED submitted before the Rouse Avenue court that Kejriwal was directly involved in the formation of the Delhi excise policy. 

The ED is seeking 10-day custody of Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi excise policy case. The arrest matter is currently being heard at the court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja in Rouse Avenue court, New Delhi. 

The hearing in the arrest matter of Kejriwal has started at the court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja in Rouse Avenue court.

The ED is asking for a 10 day custody of the Delhi CM. Kejriwal has been produced before the court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja in Rouse Avenue court.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann arrived at Arvind Kejriwal's residence in New Delhi following the latter's arrest. Mann is expected to address a press conference.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condemned the arrest of the Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal. 

Adequate security arrangements have been made near Rouse Avenue court for CM Arvind Kejriwal's production. Traffic diversions have been put in place near the court and people are not allowed to protest at DDU Marg.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Arvind Kejriwal tells Supreme Court that Kejriwal is withdrawing the petition in the Supreme Court as it is clashing with the remand.

Kejriwal has withdrawn his plea in SC against the arrest by ED. Will go to lower courts instead.

Indian social activist Anna Hazare, whose movement against corruption led to the rise of Arvind Kejriwal a decade earlier, has reacted to his arrest today. He said he was not saddened by his arrest and he won't like to advise the chief minister on any matter.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was allegedly spying on Enforcement Directorate officials and the federal agency has evidence of it. The ED has also filed a plea in the Supreme Court, urging their arguments to be heard before any observation is made. 

As police detained Atishi from protests over ED's action against Kejriwal, the Delhi minister was abruptly stopped by police from talking to the media. 'Haath mat lagaiyee (Don't touch me),' Atishi kept warning Delhi police officers as she was rushed away from the scene.

Massive traffic jam at ITO due to heavy security and road closure towards BJP headquarters situated on Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, Delhi. You are advised to keep clear of the route.

AAP Delhi Minister Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj detained by police during party's protest at ITO in Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party is protesting against CM Kejriwal's arrest by ED in excise policy case.

Special Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh and Bela Trivedi will hear the petition filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal against ED arrest in the Supreme Court today.

Justice MM Sundresh

Justice Sanjiv Khanna

Justice BM Trivedi

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's plea for an urgent hearing. He said to the Supreme Court that "if this process goes on, before the first vote is cast, a lot of senior leaders will be behind bars. Please take it up.”

Singhvi mentions before Justice Khanna.

Justice Khanna : Somebody from office just met me, it will be before 3-judge bench.

Justice Khanna : Is it a writ petition?

Singhvi : Writ petition.

Justice Khanna : Then it will be before 3-judge bench.

Singhvi : 3-judge was hearing challenge to sections..this is not challenging any provisions..CJI said come here.

Justice Khanna :There seems to be some confusion..

SG : It doesn't make any difference to me whether it is before 3 judge or 2 judge.

SG : CJI said Special Bench was going on, you rush and mention.

Justice Khanna : Let it before the Special Bench, that is the impression I got from the staff. Let this bench be over. After that will take up.

AAP leader Gopal Rai alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's family has been kept under "house arrest". Rai added that he has not been allowed to meet Kejriwal's family.

BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj said that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has “himself created this situation”.

“The ED has been asking Arvind Kejriwal to come and cooperate in the investigation. But he kept making excuses and went to a 10-day Vipassana workshop. Arvind Kejriwal himself has created this situation and all of this has nothing to do with the elections…,” said Swaraj, while speaking to ANI.

Delhi Assembly's scheduled sitting which was to take place on March 22 stands cancelled. The  House's next sitting has been scheduled on March 27 at 11 am.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's first round of questioning has been started by the Enforcement Directorate. The questioning session will be recorded by the ED officials with the help of cameras.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the government is not letting anyone meet Arvind Kejriwal’s family.

“The Chief Minister has been punished in a false case, what enmity does the Central Government have towards his elderly parents and children? No one is being allowed to meet his family. No one can even sympathize and he is upset,” said Bharadwaj, in a post on X.

Taking to X, AAP leader Raghav Chadha said, “Kejriwal is not just the name of a person but of a thought. You will arrest Kejriwal’s body, but you will not be able to arrest his thoughts.”

AAP's leader Atishi, raising concern over the security of Delhi chief minister, said, "For the first time in the country, a sitting Chief Minister has been arrested. Arvind Kejriwal has Z+ security cover. Now he is in the custody of ED of central government. We are concerned about his safety and security."

According to media reports, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was kept in the lockup at the Enforcement Directorate headquarters, was unable to sleep properly last night and woke up early morning. The chief minister had breakfast and also took his medicine.

Punjab CM and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann, reacting to the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, wrote on X, "You will arrest Arvind Kejriwal but how will you arrest his thinking... Arvind Kejriwal is not a person but an idea and we stand with our leader like a rock."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to the family of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and extended the support of the Congress party to them. He will also try to meet Kejriwal as well as his family today and offer legal help. 

Security has been beefed around the AAP and BJP headquarters and the ED offices in the national capital, in the wake of AAP's protest.

Meanwhile, the roads leading to the headquarters of AAP in Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg were blocked. The police have prohibited the entry of any vehicles.