Delhi High Court to hear Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest

The Delhi High Court is scheduled to convene on Wednesday (Mar27)to address a petition filed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Kejriwal seeks his immediate release in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam.

Kejriwal's petition, asserting the illegality of his arrest and subsequent detention by the ED, is set for hearing before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma at 10:30 am. The ED detained the Delhi chief minister shortly after the high court declined to shield him from coercive measures by the federal anti-money laundering agency. Following this, a trial court remanded Kejriwal in the ED's custody until March 28.

Allegations and legal actions

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Previously, Kejriwal had approached the high court to annul all proceedings, including summonses, issued against him. He faces accusations of corruption and money laundering related to the formulation and implementation of Delhi's excise policy for 2021-22, subsequently revoked. Notably, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are under judicial custody in the same case.

The ED's allegations assert that the accused collaborated with Kejriwal in devising the excise policy, which allegedly provided undue advantages to them in exchange for kickbacks to the AAP.

The arrest sparked political turmoil, with AAP leaders and supporters attempting to march towards the Prime Minister's residence. Conversely, the BJP staged counter-protests, demanding Kejriwal's resignation.

Despite being in ED custody, Kejriwal issued directives to Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj to address medicine and diagnostic test shortages at mohalla clinics and hospitals in the city. This marks the second directive issued by the chief minister while in ED custody.

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Security measures have been intensified across the national capital, with police deployments around key locations. Approximately 100 people, including AAP leaders and Punjab minister Harjot Singh Bains, were detained during the protests, only to be later released. The BJP also staged protests near Delhi Secretariat, resulting in detentions and the use of water cannons by police to disperse the crowd.

(With inputs from agencies)