Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy.
This arrest marks the first instance of a sitting Chief Minister being apprehended. Following his arrest, Kejriwal was taken to the Enforcement Directorate headquarters in Delhi.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to which Kejriwal belongs, swiftly responded to the situation. AAP Minister Atishi affirmed that Kejriwal would continue to serve as the Chief Minister of Delhi, even from jail, emphasizing that there is no rule prohibiting him from doing so. The AAP has also moved the Supreme Court seeking to quash Kejriwal's arrest, with Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stating that an urgent hearing has been sought.
Kejriwal is slated to be produced before a special PMLA court on Friday, where the Enforcement Directorate will seek his custody for further interrogation. Meanwhile, outside Kejriwal's residence, heavy sloganeering and protests were witnessed, leading to the detention of AAP MLA Rakhi Birla by the police.
This development comes in the wake of the Delhi High Court's refusal to grant interim relief to Kejriwal from any coercive action. The High Court had instructed the ED to compile all evidence related to Kejriwal's involvement in the Delhi liquor policy case, which was subsequently submitted for judicial review.
The arrest of Arvind Kejriwal has intensified the political landscape, with the AAP and its supporters rallying behind their leader amidst allegations of conspiracy and a purported excise policy scam. As the legal battle unfolds, the nation watches closely, especially amidst the backdrop of the upcoming India Elections 2024.
