Minutes after the Supreme Court declined an early hearing of Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest, the Delhi Rouse Avenue court on Monday ordered the Delhi Chief Minister’s judicial custody until April 23.
This development followed the postponement of Kejriwal’s plea by the Supreme Court to the week commencing from April 29. The court also directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to submit its response by April 24.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued before the Supreme Court that the arrest was a tactic to hinder his election campaign.
The apex court’s decision came in response to Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the ED and subsequent remand in connection with the now-defunct Delhi liquor policy case.
Kejriwal had moved the top court following the Delhi High Court’s dismissal of his plea on April 9, where he argued against political vendetta amid the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Earlier, on April 1, the Delhi Court had remanded Kejriwal to judicial custody until April 15 in the excise policy scam case.
SC to Hear Arvind Kejriwal’s Plea Today | Top Updates
The Delhi Chief Minister was arrested on March 21 after ignoring nine summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The Delhi High Court rejected Kejriwal’s plea on April 9, citing sufficient evidence for his arrest due to non-cooperation with the ED.
Kejriwal moved the Supreme Court on April 10, challenging the Delhi High Court’s order on his arrest related to the alleged excise scam.
Kejriwal is the first sitting Chief Minister to be arrested and is currently in Tihar jail. Additionally, AAP leader Manish Sisodia has been in jail since February last year in the same case.
AAP leaders accused the BJP of targeting the party, anticipating further arrests after Kejriwal’s.
In a significant setback, AAP’s Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand resigned from the party on April 10, citing corruption allegations.
Furthermore, Kejriwal’s private secretary Bibhav Kumar was sacked over alleged rule violations during his appointment.
