In a significant turn of events, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated questioning of Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, at his residence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This action follows the Delhi High Court’s recent decision to deny Kejriwal protection from arrest in the liquor policy case. A team comprising 12 officials is present inside his residence with a search warrant. The presence of Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj adds to the gravity of the situation.
Mr. Bharadwaj expressed concerns about the possibility of an impending arrest, citing the heavy police presence and restricted access to the premises. Kejriwal, also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has urgently sought intervention from the Supreme Court amidst the unfolding developments.
This development marks a culmination of a series of events where Kejriwal had previously ignored nine summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate regarding the alleged liquor policy scam. Additionally, he skipped summons related to a money-laundering case involving irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board. The recent escalation follows the arrest of BRS leader K Kavitha in the liquor policy case, where Kejriwal was named as a conspirator for the first time.
Speculation surrounding Kejriwal’s potential arrest has been rife since the issuance of the first summons by the Enforcement Directorate in October of the previous year. This was further fueled by the arrest of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in February and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in October in connection with the same case.
Earlier on the same day, the Delhi High Court refused to grant Kejriwal protection from arrest in the liquor policy case. However, the court instructed the Enforcement Directorate to respond to his petition, scheduling the next hearing for April 22. The bench, comprising Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain, stated that they were not inclined to grant protection at this stage, allowing the ED to file a reply.
The unfolding situation has put Kejriwal, a prominent figure in Indian politics, under intense scrutiny. With the ED’s investigation ongoing and legal proceedings underway, the future trajectory of this case remains uncertain, leaving many eagerly awaiting further developments.
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