Kejriwal arrest: AAP withdraws plea in SC against ED arrest, will move to lower courts

The matter regarding the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will now be heardin the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court as officials seek his custody for further interrogation. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday withdrew itsplea in the Supreme Court against ED arrest as the party has decided to move to lower courts first.

ED’s action against Kejriwal came after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him any protection in regard to the coercive action against him in the excise policy case.

The ED is pursuing Kejriwal in two cases, 1) Delhi liquor excise policy case, and 2) Another case related to alleged kickbacks in a Delhi Jal Board contract to a private firm. The federal agency has so far issued nine summons to the Delhi CM in the cases, all of which have been skipped by Kejriwal. The ED had issued the latest summons for Mar 21.

AAP mobilising people

Following the arrest of their leader, AAP workers and legislators are likely to hold massive protests around Delhi against what they say is ‘dictatorship.’ AAP leaders chalked out the strategy for protests late Thursday and declared the people of Delhi “will be out on the roads”.

Watch:Arvind Kejriwal ED update: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to be presented before court

“Narendra Modi has started the fight and we will finish it… everyone should be prepared to protest tomorrow,” said AAP’s Delhi unit chief Gopal Rai.

Several small local protests are also being planned across the city. “Smaller local protests are also being planned but for now, the focus will be on the party office on Friday,” a party leader was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

Rai said that AAP workers will start assembling at ITO at 10 am. He also declared that the people of the nation will protest outside the offices of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) across the nation.

Security beefed up

Authorities in Delhi have beefed up the security measures, with Delhi police and paramilitary forces such as Rapid Action Force (RAF) deployed outside Kejriwal’s residence to control the crowd.

On Thursday evening, as soon as the ED arrived at the CM’s residence in Civil Lines, senior party leaders Atishi, Durgesh Pathak, MLA Sanjeev Jha, Imran Hussain, Rakhi Bidlan, Jarnail Singh, Rohit Mehraulia and scores of party workers and supporters gathered outside.

(With inputs from agencies)