Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal‘s legal battle against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy case reaches the Supreme Court today. Kejriwal’s plea challenges the Delhi High Court’s dismissal of his petition on April 9, alleging political vendetta behind his arrest.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta is slated to hear the matter, wherein Kejriwal contests the validity of his arrest and subsequent remand by the ED.
The Delhi High Court had upheld the ED’s actions, stating that the probe agency had ample evidence justifying Kejriwal’s arrest and emphasizing his non-cooperation with the investigation. Notably, Kejriwal failed to appear before the ED despite nine summonses.
Kejriwal’s arrest on March 21 marked a significant moment in Indian politics, making him the first sitting Chief Minister to face such charges. Currently lodged in Tihar jail, he faces accusations of money laundering linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy.
Alongside Kejriwal, other AAP leaders like Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh have faced legal repercussions in the case, with Sisodia already serving jail time since February last year.
The Delhi excise policy case revolves around allegations of corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the city’s excise policy for 2021-22. The policy aimed to overhaul Delhi’s liquor business but was later scrapped amid controversy and allegations of irregularities.
The CBI and ED assert that AAP leaders received kickbacks amounting to ₹100 crore from politicians and liquor businessmen in exchange for granting licenses under the policy. Kejriwal’s alleged involvement in formulating the policy has also been highlighted in the chargesheet, alleging undue benefits to certain individuals in return for kickbacks.
As the legal battle intensifies, the Supreme Court’s verdict on Kejriwal’s plea could have far-reaching implications for the political landscape in Delhi and beyond.
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