 "Kejriwal in court")
The ED accused Kejriwal of utilising the “proceeds of crime” in the Goa Assembly polls, amounting to £45 crore, which came from four hawala routes by the AAP, of which “he is the convenor and the ultimate decision-maker.”
A Delhi court has sent Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal to the Enforcement Directorate’s custody until 28 March on Friday.
The ED, which arrested Kejriwal on Thursday evening, produced him before the court at 2 pm, describing him as “the kingpin and key conspirator” in the alleged liquor scam case and sought his 10-day custody. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court ordered that Kejriwal be produced before the court on 28 March at 2 pm.
The ED claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was a “major beneficiary” of the proceeds of crimes generated from the alleged liquor scam. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, told the court that Kejriwal demanded £100 crore from the ‘South group’ for contesting the Punjab elections. He explained that the AAP is not an individual but a company, and every person responsible for the conduct of the company will be held accountable.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, commented that this is the first time in the history of India that a sitting chief minister has been arrested. He argued that the power of arrest is not equivalent to the need for arrest and that there was no necessity to arrest Kejriwal.
The ED accused Kejriwal of utilising the “proceeds of crime” in the Goa Assembly polls, amounting to £45 crore, which came from four hawala routes by the AAP, of which “he is the convenor and the ultimate decision-maker.” It alleged that kickbacks were generated by the ‘South Group’ members, including arrested Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha and others.
AAP workers, along with those from other constituents of the Indian National Inclusive Developmental Alliance (INDIA), protested Kejriwal’s arrest across the country. Jairam Ramesh of the Congress termed Kejriwal’s arrest as “vendetta politics”. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and others criticised Kejriwal’s arrest.
Leaders of the INDIA bloc approached the Election Commission, submitting a memorandum that implored the poll panel to “ensure a level playing field” for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
They highlighted Kejriwal’s arrest, the first instance of a sitting chief minister being arrested, the “freezing” of the Congress’ bank accounts, the arrest of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and “multiple examples of the targeting of the Trinamool Congress,” asking the EC to intervene.
Sources in the opposition bloc stated that Kejriwal’s arrest has galvanised the parties in the alliance, with the Congress, the Trinamool, and the Left setting aside their differences, including recent ones over seat-sharing, to protest his arrest collectively. The AAP announced it would gherao the prime minister’s residence on 26 March and outlined a series of protests its workers would undertake over the next few days.
Legal experts noted that Kejriwal, arrested from his Civil Lines official residence on Thursday evening, could continue as Delhi’s chief minister since he has not been convicted. However, they observed it would be challenging to run a government while he is in ED or judicial custody. Senior advocate Vikas Singh stated, “Legally, there is no bar for Kejriwal to continue as Delhi’s chief minister, but it will be practically impossible administratively.” According to the Representation of the People Act, a lawmaker is disqualified if convicted and sentenced to two years or more in jail.
AAP strategists expressed concerns over potential central rule in Delhi and hoped for Kejriwal’s prompt bail. They prepared for the second rung of the party’s leadership, including Sandeep Pathak, Atishi, and Saurabh Bharadwaj, to lead the party’s protests and the AAP’s Lok Sabha campaign preparations. Concerns about a leadership vacuum have arisen in the party with three of its top leaders, Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh, in jail.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal withdrew his bail application from the Supreme Court after the apex court denied Kavitha’s bail application, advising her to approach a trial court.
First Published: Mar 22 2024 | 9:43 PM IST
