Kejriwal ED arrest: Delhi CM Kejriwal Urges Immediate Release from ED Custody

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has appealed to the Delhi High Court for his prompt release from custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The move comes in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the excise policy 'scam'. Kejriwal argues that his arrest, just before elections, goes against the core principles of the Constitution.

Arguments Presented in Court

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, emphasized that the purpose of the arrest seemed to be to disable him and his party rather than to gather evidence. Singhvi asserted that there was no valid reason for Kejriwal's arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and criticized the grounds of "non-cooperation" as being overused by the ED.

Court's Response

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma assured that she would issue a notice on the petition and allow time for the ED to respond. She pledged to deliver an order on the matter later in the day. Singhvi requested interim relief for Kejriwal, urging the court to order his release promptly.

ED's Position

The Additional Solicitor General, representing the ED, argued that the agency had received the petition only recently and requested three weeks to prepare a response. He insisted that appropriate time should be given for interim relief proceedings.

Singhvi highlighted the urgency of addressing the fundamental issues surrounding Kejriwal's arrest. He stressed that democracy itself was under threat, emphasizing the need for a level playing field in the electoral process. According to Singhvi, even a short period in custody could have serious repercussions if the arrest was deemed unlawful.

Background of the Case

Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was arrested on March 21 and remanded to the ED's custody until March 28 by a Delhi court. The arrest came shortly after the high court declined to shield him from coercive action by the ED. The case revolves around allegations of corruption and money laundering related to the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently scrapped.

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