Delhi CM to move SC against HC order dismissing his PIL challenging arrest

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal plans to appeal to the Supreme Court following a high court order dismissing his plea against arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case related to the excise policy, the AAP said on Tuesday.

After the high court’s decision, the AAP described the “so-called excise policy scam” as the “biggest political conspiracy” to undermine the party and Kejriwal.

Senior AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated at a press conference, “We respect the high court’s institution, but respectfully disagree with its order and intend to approach the Supreme Court.”

Bharadwaj asserted that neither the Enforcement Directorate nor the Central Bureau of Investigation has recovered any illegal money in the “so-called excise policy case.”

He emphasized, “The entire issue is not about money laundering; rather, it’s the most significant political conspiracy in the country. It’s a plot to crush Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP governments in Delhi and Punjab.”

Bharadwaj expressed optimism that the Supreme Court would grant relief to Kejriwal, similar to the bail granted to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in the case.

The Delhi High Court dismissed Kejriwal’s plea, stating, “The court believes that Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest did not violate legal provisions. The remand cannot be deemed illegal,” according to Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma.

In addition to challenging his arrest, Kejriwal, who is presently in judicial custody, also contested his subsequent remand in ED custody.

The case revolves around alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and implementing the Delhi government’s now-defunct excise policy for 2021-22.

Kejriwal was apprehended by the ED on March 21, shortly after the high court declined to shield him from coercive measures by the federal anti-money laundering agency.

On April 1, he was remanded to judicial custody following the expiration of his ED custody and is presently held in Tihar jail. (With inputs from PTI)