Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Moves HC Against 'Illegal' Arrest, ED Custody In Liquor Policy Case

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sought an urgent hearing as he moved the Delhi High Court to challenge his recent arrest and the remand order in the Delhi excise policy case.

File photo of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Source : PTI

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has moved the Delhi High Court to challenge his recent arrest and the remand order issued by the trial court on Friday. He contends that both his arrest and the subsequent remand order are illegal, and he is entitled to immediate release from custody. An urgent hearing has been sought from the Acting Chief Justice, preferably by Sunday, March 24.

Kejriwal's Wife, Sunita Kejriwal, Reads Out His Message from ED Custody

In a rare public appearance, Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, read out a message from her husband sent from Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody on Saturday. The message, streamed live by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), assured his supporters that he would soon return to fulfill his promises. "No jail can keep your brother, your son inside for long," he asserted, expressing his commitment to continue serving the nation. Sunita Kejriwal also conveyed Arvind Kejriwal's appeals to AAP volunteers and the women of Delhi, assuring them that he would fulfill his promises, including the provision of a monthly Rs 1000 honorarium for women.

In response to Kejriwal's arrest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded his resignation, accusing him of being involved in corrupt practices. Union Minister Anurag Thakur criticised Kejriwal for refusing to step down despite facing serious allegations, contrasting this with the resignation of politicians involved in similar scandals in the past.

"I had said earlier that the 'kingpin' will also be arrested. However, those who used to talk about ethics till yesterday are now saying that they will run the government from jail. Even those who were involved in the fodder scam had resigned. However, those involved in the liquor scam have refused to resign," Thakur said at a press conference, as quoted by news agency PTI.

Delhi CM in ED Custody Till March 28

Arvind Kejriwal was remanded in the ED's custody till March 28 by a Delhi court for interrogation regarding his alleged involvement in the Delhi excise policy case. The court ordered his custodial interrogation to uncover additional evidence and confront him with data retrieved from digital devices, PTI reported. The prosecution accused Kejriwal of being part of the conspiracy, benefiting financially, and using proceeds of crime in election campaigns. The court directed the ED to produce Kejriwal for further proceedings on March 28.