New Delhi

The INDIA bloc received consent from the Election Commission (EC) and police to hold a rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on Sunday (March 31) against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Advertisment

It may be noted here, Arvind Kejriwal was arrested last week in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy scam.

The Sources in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) named some of the leaders who are likely to attend the rally.

Also read: India summons US diplomat over Washington's statement on Kejriwal's arrest

Advertisment

Leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Trichy Shiva, Derek O'Brian, Tejaswi Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Farooq Abdullah, Dipankar Bhattarcharya, Champai Soren, G Devaraja, Kalpana Soren and Bhagwant Maan are expected to participate in the protests.

AAP has received nod from the concerned authorities for holding rally for an attendance of more than 20,000 people, Gopal Rai said.

The Delhi Police stated in their notice of permission that the event will happen on Sunday from 9.30 am to 2 pm.

Advertisment

Arvind Kejriwal arrested

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED for his alleged involvement in the liquor policy scam. This was the first case where a sitting Chief Minister was arrested. The Delhi high court on Wednesday (March 27) denied interim relief to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate as the court only issued notices regarding the CM's plea and posted the matter for further hearing on April 3.

Allegations and legal actions

Previously, Kejriwal had approached the high court to annul all proceedings, including several summons, 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 already under judicial custody in the same case.

Also read: No interim relief for Arvind Kejriwal from Delhi High Court, next hearing on April 3

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. Meanwhile, the BJP staged counter-protests demanding Kejriwal's resignation.

Also read: ‘Conman’ Sukesh threatens to expose Arvind Kejriwal, says ‘will become approver against Delhi CM’

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 was the second directive issued by the chief minister while in ED custody.

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)