Supreme Court Serves Notice to ED in Arvind Kejriwal’s Excise Policy Case
Delhi Chief Minister Challenges Arrest and Remand, Hearing Set for April 29.
New Delhi, 15 April 2024: The Supreme Court has initiated proceedings on a plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the excise policy case. A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta issued a notice to the ED, directing them to submit their response by April 24. The plea hearing is scheduled for the week commencing April 29.
The Delhi High Court recently upheld Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest on April 9, citing his repeated refusal to comply with summonses and cooperate with the investigation. Kejriwal, in his appeal to the Supreme Court filed on April 11, argued that his arrest was politically motivated.
Highlighting the circumstances surrounding his arrest, Kejriwal emphasized that it was based on contradictory statements from co-accused individuals who have since become approvers. The ED arrested Kejriwal on March 21, alleging his involvement in corruption and money laundering related to the Delhi liquor scam and the formulation of the excise policy.
Currently, Kejriwal is detained in Tihar jail. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the BJP-led government of orchestrating Kejriwal’s arrest as part of a larger political conspiracy. Senior AAP leader Atishi has alleged that the BJP aims to impose President’s Rule in Delhi ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
