Excise policy case: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrested by ED, to be produced before court on Friday

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrested: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday night in an excise policy-linked money laundering case. His arrest, the first of a sitting chief minister, came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the agency.

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Arrested soon after Delhi HC order

Earlier in the day, Delhi High Court bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain refused to grant Kejriwal any protection from coercive action in the case.

Soon after the high court order, an ED team reached his residence and carried out searches. Subsequently, he was arrested, officials said.

Officials said the ED would produce the chief minister before a court here on Friday and seek his custody for interrogation.

The bench listed the AAP leader's application for further consideration on April 22 when his main petition challenging the summons is fixed for hearing, and asked the Enforcement Directorate to file its response.

Arrest draws angry reactions from Aam Aadmi Party workers

The 55-year-old leader's arrest, amid campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, drew angry reactions from his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

As the ED officials carried out their action inside, additional Delhi Police personnel and Rapid Action Force (RAF) and CRPF teams were deployed around the chief minister's residence.

The additional deployment was made as the ED sought extra security measures in anticipation of protests by AAP supporters, sources said.

A large number of AAP workers and leaders gathered near the chief minister's residence and shouted slogans against the ED action.

During the day, Kejriwal moved the Supreme Court against the high court's order denying him any relief in the matter.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police used drone for surveillance outside CM residence.

#WATCH | Delhi Police uses drone for surveillance.

Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Excise policy case: Sources pic.twitter.com/Hy0TnVWCBf

— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2024

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemns ED action

Following the development, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took to X to condemn the action against Kejriwal. He wrote, "BJP's political team (ED) cannot arrest Kejriwal's thinking...because only AAP can stop BJP. Thoughts can never be suppressed."

भाजपा की राजनीतिक टीम (ED) .,केजरीवाल की सोच को कैद नहीं कर सकती…क्योंकि AAP ही BJP को रोक सकती हैं..
सोच को कभी भी दबाया नहीं जा सकता

— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) March 21, 2024

Why Arvind Kejriwal arrested? What is the excise policy case?

The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped.

AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are in judicial custody in the case.

Kejriwal's name has been mentioned multiple times in the charge sheets filed by the ED. The agency has alleged that the accused were in touch with Kejriwal for formulating the excise policy that resulted in undue benefits to them in return for which they paid kickbacks to the AAP.

(With Agency Inputs)