A day after his plea challenging his arrest in the liquor policy case was dismissed by the Delhi High Court, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to seek relief from the Supreme Court today. The leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will have his counsel present the matter before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud around 10:30 am, requesting an urgent hearing.
In its ruling yesterday, the high court rejected Kejriwal’s challenge to his March 21 arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The court emphasized that the ED was compelled to take action after Kejriwal repeatedly ignored summonses in the money laundering investigation. It cited the agency’s allegation that Kejriwal was actively involved in the utilization and concealment of suspected proceeds of crime.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, delivering the statement, underscored that there shouldn’t be a dual standard for questioning individuals based on their status, whether a common citizen or a Chief Minister. “This Court holds that there is no separate protocol for a probe agency to follow…since that public office is enjoyed by that public figure due to the mandate of the public,” she stated.
In response to the high court’s decision, AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj criticized the ED and the CBI for failing to uncover any illicit funds during their investigations into the Delhi liquor policy case. He alleged coercion of witnesses and labeled the situation as the “biggest political conspiracy in India’s history.”
Bharadwaj expressed hope for justice from the Supreme Court, referencing similar circumstances involving AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who was granted bail by the apex court after being denied relief by the high court.
Kejriwal had previously approached the Supreme Court immediately after his arrest, later withdrawing his petition to pursue the matter in the trial court. Now, faced with another legal setback, he returns to the Supreme Court seeking redress.
The liquor policy under scrutiny, introduced in 2021 and subsequently withdrawn, allegedly favored liquor licensees. Following a recommendation from Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, the CBI initiated an inquiry into the alleged irregularities, while the ED is probing the financial aspects of the case. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, another senior AAP leader, is currently in custody, while AAP MP Sanjay Singh, also implicated, is out on bail.
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