A day after his arrest, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appeared before the Rouse Avenue Court on Friday, 22 March. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had taken the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader into custody on Thursday, March 21, regarding his alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor excise policy scam.
According to reports, after hearing arguments, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has decided to reserve its verdict on the remand of CM Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor excise policy case. The ED had requested custody of Kejriwal for 10 days.
Earlier, Kejriwal withdrew his plea against arrest by the ED. His legal representative cited scheduling conflicts and expressed intention to challenge remand proceedings before the trial court.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who is representing Kejriwal, brought up the matter before a bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, seeking permission to withdraw the plea. Singhvi indicated Kejriwal’s intention to challenge the remand proceedings before the trial court before returning to the apex court with a fresh petition.
Meanwhile, ED has intensified its allegations against Kejriwal, labeling him as a “key conspirator” in the liquor scam case, alleging he received substantial kickbacks from the ‘South group’ for formulating and implementing the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
According to Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, who is representing the federal anti-money laundering agency, Kejriwal demanded a staggering Rs 100 crore from certain accused of the ‘South group’ for contesting elections. Raju further elaborated that the money trail indicated Rs 45 crore “kickback” used in the Goa assembly elections was routed through four hawala routes.
Kejriwal’s arrest has sparked protests across various regions. In Punjab and Haryana, AAP workers staged demonstrations against the arrest, with clashes reported between protestors and law enforcement. Water cannons and lathi charges were used to disperse protestors attempting to gherao Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s residence in Kurukshetra.
Similarly, AAP workers in Srinagar and Jammu were detained as they attempted to organize protest marches against Kejriwal’s arrest. Speaking on the matter, AAP leader Nawab Nasir condemned the arrest, labeling it as against democratic norms.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had denied Kejriwal interim protection from arrest, leading to the subsequent action by the ED. The situation remains tense as legal proceedings and public reactions continue to unfold.
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