No Protection From Arrest To Kejriwal As Delhi HC Rejects Interim Relief In ED Summons

Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to grant any interim protection from coercive action to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said at this stage we are not inclined to grant an interim relief

The high court sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate on this fresh interim plea and listed the matter for April 22

Source : PTI

The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to grant any interim protection from coercive action to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said at this stage we are not inclined to grant an interim relief.

 

However, the high court sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate on this fresh interim plea and listed the matter for April 22, 2024.

Delhi HC refuses to grant any interim protection from coercive action to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and said at this stage we are not inclined to grant an interim relief.

However, the court sought a response from ED on this fresh interim plea and listed the matter for April 22,… pic.twitter.com/Laxg9TbY3f

— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2024

In Wednesday's hearing the high court refused to stay the ED summons to Kejriwal, however it asked the ED to file its response within two weeks and scheduled the case for April 22. Hours after the High Court refused to stay the summons, Kejriwal filed a new application in the same case, seeking "no coercive action" against him. Today, the high court refused to grant him interim protection drom arrest.

On Wednesday, during the hearing, the bench asked Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal as to why he is not appearing before the agency for questioning. 

Singhvi said that they apprehend that ED will arrest him and Kejriwal will appear if he is given protection.

"You are citizen of the country, the summons is by name only. Why don't you appear," the bench asked. Singhvi however, told the court that AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh were also arrested by the agency in similar manner.

In his petition before the high court Kejriwal has also contended that provisions of PMLA are being used to persecute and destroy the very basic fabric of the democratic and federal structure of this country.

"The attempt is to decimate a political party and topple an elected government of NCT of Delhi. Various other senior leaders of the political party who have been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (“ED”) by using such unconstitutional provisions of the PMLA." reads Kejriwal's petition.