New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has rejected Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the now-defunct excise policy case. The court, presided over by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, stated that the ED has presented sufficient evidence indicating that Kejriwal received kickbacks during the Goa elections.
According to the court, the ED’s investigation indicates that Kejriwal conspired to formulate a new excise policy and utilized the proceeds of crime for party expenses. The court emphasized that Kejriwal, both in his personal capacity and as the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is allegedly involved in the policy formulation and kickback demands.
Rejecting Kejriwal’s plea, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma remarked, “There is no separate law for the common man or the Chief Minister. There is no special privilege for Arvind Kejriwal.” The court also dismissed the notion that the timing of the arrest was politically motivated, stating, “The Chief Minister cannot decide how the probe has to be done. The probe is not as per accused convenience.”
Kejriwal’s arrest, which was made just before the Lok Sabha elections, has been contested by him and AAP, who claim it was intended to sideline senior party leaders and disrupt campaign plans. The court upheld its previous remand orders, sending Kejriwal to ED custody and then to Delhi’s Tihar Jail until April 15.
This marks the first instance of a sitting Chief Minister being taken into custody. Kejriwal’s lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued last week that the allegations are based on statements from approvers who were coerced into speaking against the Delhi CM.
