The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a detailed affidavit in the Supreme Court in response to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest in the Delhi excise policy case. The affidavit asserts that there are no special provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) that differentiate the arrest of a chief minister from that of an ordinary citizen.
According to the ED, there are no distinct standards of evidence required to arrest a chief minister or a common citizen under the PMLA. The agency emphasizes that Kejriwal’s attempt to highlight his position to carve out a special category for himself cannot be accepted. The affidavit accuses Kejriwal of being the kingpin and key conspirator of the Delhi excise scam.
In response to the affidavit, an AAP spokesperson accused the ED of fabricating lies at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the agency acts as the political arm of the BJP. However, the BJP declined to comment on the matter.
The ED stressed that Kejriwal’s arrest was based on substantial evidence and legal grounds, refuting allegations of the arrest being politically motivated. The agency stated that treating a politician differently from an ordinary criminal in terms of arrest would violate the principle of equality enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution.
The affidavit further highlighted Kejriwal’s alleged evasion of investigation for nearly six months, during which he skipped nine of the agency’s summonses. The ED accused Kejriwal of colluding with AAP leaders and other individuals to draft and implement the excise policy, favoring certain entities in exchange for kickbacks.
Despite Kejriwal’s challenge to the veracity and admissibility of statements of the approvers and other witnesses, the agency asserted that the evidentiary value of such statements would be tested during the trial. The ED urged the Supreme Court to reject Kejriwal’s petition, citing the support of three independent judicial authorities for its decision to arrest the Delhi chief minister.
The ongoing legal battle between Kejriwal and the ED underscores the complexities and controversies surrounding high-profile corruption cases in India, with political ramifications that extend beyond legal proceedings.
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