Arvind Kejriwal ED Arrest: Delhi Court Sends Kejriwal To 6-Day ED Custody; AAP To 'Gherao' PM's House On March 26

The central probe agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday late evening arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the now scrapped Delhi Excise Policy-linked money laundering case. Kejriwal has been taken to the probe agency's headquarters in Delhi. The arrest took place after an interrogation of nearly two hours at Kejriwal's residence.

The probe agency's action came after Kejriwal had repeatedly refused to appear before the federal anti-money laundering agency, terming the summons illegal.

On Thursday, this development of arresting a sitting chief minister for the very first time came hours after the Delhi High Court denied protection to the Aam Admi Party (AAP) supremo from any coercive action by the agency.

The arrest of the 55-year-old national convenor of the party right ahead of the Lok Sabha polls awaited within a month drew angry reactions from the party workers. Extending support toward Kejriwal, Delhi minister Atishi claimed Kejriwal will continue to be Delhi CM and, "If need be, he will run the government from jail."

However, the BJP though demanded that Kejriwal should step down as chief minister on moral grounds.

Taking cognisance of the quick escalations on Thursday late evening in the matter of Delhi CM Kejriwal's arrest by ED in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy scam, the Supreme Court has listed the case for hearing on Friday morning.

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) is all set to stage a nationwide protest on Friday outside the BJP's offices. In Delhi, AAP workers have been asked to assemble outside its national headquarters at ITO at 10 am.

Strongly condemning ED's move, yesterday the party workers staged a protest outside Kejriwal's residence in Delhi.

Security measures have been beefed up outside the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Delhi following the areest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in an excise policy-linked money laundering case on Thursday night.

As per media reports, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to Arvind Kejriwal's family and assured Congress' support.

It has been reported that Gandhi is likely to meet the AAP chief's family on Friday and provide legal help.

Extending support to the arrested Delhi CM, Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said, “The whole country saw the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal by the ED. He is being implicated in a false case. I want to say that after independence, Kejriwal was a politician who brought change. He has given free electricity, improved schools and made Delhi corruption-free. He has done the same for Punjab. I condemn this arrest.”

Launching a verbal attack on the ruling BJP over sitting chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, "Aisi Taisi Democracy. For all the talk of 400+ seats, the ruling dispensation is displaying a remarkable degree of nervousness. Having a sitting opposition CM arrested by a pliable central agency within days of the general elections being announced is a blot on democracy."

Following the arrest of Delhi CM Kejriwal on Thursday night, barricading and heavy security has been deployed at ITO. Aam Admi Party (AAP) members are expected to assemble there at 10 AM to stage a protest against Kejriwal's arrest.

A team of doctors on Friday morning arrived at the ED headquarters for the medical examination of Delhi CM and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

Amid the confusion over whether Kejriwal would continue as Delhi CM, advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey on Friday said, “There is no provision in the Constitution as per which the sitting Chief Minister is arrested; has to resign for the smooth running of the government of that state. Immunity is only available to the Governor and President of India; they cannot be arrested. But here if any allegation is leveled against the Chief Minister, then the agency can always arrest.”

Punjab CM and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann took to microblogging platform X to extend support to Arvind Kejriwal.

"You will arrest Arvind Kejriwal but how will you arrest his thinking... Arvind Kejriwal is not a person but an idea and we stand with our leader like a rock...," Bhagwant Mann said.

The Supreme Court will be hearing Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in Delhi excise policy scam at 10:30 AM.

The case will be heard by a bench led by CJI Chandrachud.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Delhi minister Atishi lashed out at the ruling BJP.

“It has happened for the first time in the history of Indian democracy, that a sitting Chief Minister has been arrested by the central government. It has happened for the first time that a national convener of a national party has been arrested after the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. It’s totally clear that the arrest of the (Delhi CM) Arvind Kejriwal is a political conspiracy of BJP", she told.

Accusing Delhi CM Kejriwal of looting his party's money, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Friday said, "Arvind Kejriwal looted Delhi's funds...Today, the people of Delhi are distributing sweets saying that the one who looted them has been arrested."

Commenting on the sitting Delhi CM's arrest by ED, AAP leader Gopal Rai on Friday said that Arvind Kejriwal's family has been placed under 'house arrest'.

"Yesterday, an elected Chief Minister was arrested by PM Modi. Arvind Kejriwal has continuously worked for the people of Delhi and to save democracy. PM Modi thinks that by arresting every opposition leader, he can stop us. We appeal to everyone that it’s the time to fight against it”, he further added.

Slamming Delhi CM Kejriwal over making 'irresponsible, baseless allegations' against then chief minister and Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, former President Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmishtha Mukherjee said, "He & Anna Hazare gang were responsible for making most irresponsible, baseless & wild allegations against Congress including Sheila Dikshit ji saying he had ‘trunk loads’ of evidence against her. No one has seen the ‘trunk’ so far. Karma catches up!"

Hearing of BRS leader K Kavitha's case in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy 'scam' is underway as well at the Supreme Court.

CJI DY Chandrachud on Friday assigned the case of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest for a hearing before a bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna today.

Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the ED was mentioned by Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

While mentioning the plea, Singhvi said, "If this process goes on, before the first vote is cast, a lot of senior leaders will be behind bars. Please take it up.”

Police on Friday detained several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers as they protested against the arrest of Delhi CM & party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal at ITO in Delhi.

Yesterday, the AAP supporters also staged a protest in front of Kejriwal's residence in Delhi.

Police on Friday detained many including Delhi Ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj during a protest by Aam Admi Party (AAP) workers at ITO against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest in connection with the liquor policy case.

Owing to road closure and deployment of heavy security towards the BJP headquarters following Kejriwal's arrest, commuters are facing heavy traffic congestion at ITO.

Commenting on Kejriwal's arrest by the probe agency, social activist Anna Hazare said, “I felt bad that Arvind Kejriwal who used to work with me and raised his voice against liquor, is himself making liquor policy.”

Back in 2011, Kejriwal shared the stage with Hazare during the anti-corruption movement led by him.

Commenting on the BJP's multiple attempts to cripple the Opposition parties ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Congress MP Sashi Tharoor said, "To try and tamper with what was supposed to be a level playing field by arresting somebody who is not just a Chief Minister of a state but also a President of an Opposition party in the fray and at the same time to freeze the bank accounts of principal Opposition party, the Congress, this is for us is completely unacceptable."

"It is an assault on democracy and it reveals the depths to which this BJP govt of PM Modi will sink, they would rather throw our democracy in the gutter than risk losing the election which they're clearly afraid of losing. This is one more indication of the panic that has set in in the BJP ranks. I urge SC to take suo moto cognizance of the matter", he further added.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann visited Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. Earlier, extending support tto the arrested chief minister, Mann said,"You will arrest Arvind Kejriwal but how will you arrest his thinking... Arvind Kejriwal is not a person but an idea and we stand with our leader like a rock..."

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday sought ten-day custody of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in liquor policy case.

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday produced Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal before Rouse Avenue court following his arrest yesterday.

Earlier, the Delhi CM was seen being taken from ED office to Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi.

Police on Friday used water cannons to disperse the AAP workers protesting against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier, several were detained including Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj and MLA Sai Ram.

During the ongoing protest in Delhi against Kejriwal's arrest by ED, police also detained several female Aam Admi Party (AAP) workers.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann spoke to reporters outside Kejriwal's house in Delhi On Friday when he slammed BJP for controlling probe agencies like ED and he said, "The agencies are being used like a tool, like a weapon. Any opposition leader, who raises voice against the atrocities of the BJP, is raided by the ED, CBI and Income Tax. The situation in the country is like undeclared emergency."

Advocate AM Singhvi, representing Kejriwal in court on Friday asked for ED to show if it was necessary for them to arrest the Delhi CM. He stated in the court that further investigation into money trail cannot be a ground for arrest.

Advocate AM Singhvi, representing Kejriwal in court on Friday argued, "It is unprecedented in India's 75-year history that a sitting CM, along with the top four senior leaders of his party, including him, has been arrested. This raises questions about the fairness of the election outcome even before the first vote is cast."

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was captured on camera telling the reporters outside court, "Mera jeevan desh ke liye samarpit hai, chahe andar rahoon ya bahar rahoon."(My life is dedicated to the country whether I stay inside a jail or outside it.)

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says that according to ED, the CM was arrested on Thursday for 'non-cooperation'.

He further added that all necessary documents and information in the case are already acquired by ED and he said, "summoning him (Kejriwal) 'in person' is therefore a ploy to illegally arrest him and the present matter is a clear case of malice."

AAP shared the video of the brief moment of Kejriwal speaking to the camera on Friday in a post on X where they wrote, "Patriots are not afraid of a cowardly dictator," taking a jibe at PM Modi echoing several AAP leaders who have called Kejriwal's arrest a move 'dictated' by the saffron party and using the probe agency as a 'political weapon'.

Coming out of the court, Singhvi said, "What I had to say, I have said in court."

Singhvi while concluding his arguments before the Special Judge, requested to not look at the remand as a routine.

Further adding that it requires the application of significant judicial mind and stated that "there are larger issues of democracy involved".

He also said that there is no direct evidence. "Without there being any material in possession of the Enforcement Directorate on the basis of which Mr Kejriwal can be believed to be guilty of an offence, he is being illegally and arbitrarily arrested by the ED", submitted Singhvi before Rouse Avenue court.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in connection with an ongoing liquor policy case, under which the ED has previously alleged that through the excise policy implemented by the Delhi Government in November 2021, the AAP was involved in money laundering. 

The new policy reduced the legal drinking age to 21, replaced government-owned liquor stores with private entities, and implemented separate registration criteria for different liquor brands based on pricing and sales performance outside Delhi.

Additionally, the annual liquor vending license fee was increased significantly from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 75 lakh. The new policy also granted licenses to 849 private vendors through competitive bidding.

The policy was later scrapped after violations were reported.

Hundreds of AAP workers in Haryana's Kurukshetra were dispersed by water canons for protesting against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.

ASG SV Raju representing ED at rouse Avenue Court hearing of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, reportedly told the Special Judge, "In this case, there is a history of destruction of electronic evidence. A large number of phones have been formatted making it very difficult for the investigating agencies to investigate but despite that these agencies have done a wonderful service."

ASG SV Raju on Friday claimed that the ED has evidence of AAP orchestrating the Delhi Excise Policy only to fund the Goa Assembly Elections in

Raju reportedly stated, "We (ED) possess concrete evidence indicating that the policy change was orchestrated to finance the Goa elections."

Raju explained that the Delhi CM wasn't arrested because of not to responding to summons but due to his involvement as a 'key' conspirator and the liability that he holds through the AAP company.

Raju's statement also added, "Our argument is that he bears individual responsibility as well. Hence, it's a dual case."

Further explaining the argument of the timing of the case, Raju explained it is soldely within the jurisdiction of the investigating officer.

Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal in a post on X said that the arrest was done out of PM Modi's 'arrogance of power'. She also echoed Kejriwal's words that he has dedicated his life to the country whether he is inside or outside jail.

Sunita Kejriwal wrote, "This is a betrayal of the people of Delhi. Your Chief Minister has always stood with you," addressing to the voters.

The Delhi court has not yet made a decision on the Enforcement Directorate's request for remand of Arvind Kejriwal. A verdict is expected shortly.

Claiming that the BJP is afraid of the INDIA bloc, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told reporters, "This is a politics of revenge. BJP is afraid of the INDIA alliance... This is an attack on democracy and our constitution... There is only one thought in the Prime Minister's mind, 'One Nation No Election'... The entire country is in OPD- One Person Dictatorship."

He also added, "ED, CBI and Income Tax has been unleashed on opposition leaders. I think the PM and Home Minister are nervous by the success of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the opposition unity, the INDIA alliance. I think they have decided that democratic means are not going to work; it's only through these undemocratic, illegal, unconstitutional means that they are going to get the majority."

The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on Friday staged a protest in Chennai against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the ED and demanded his release.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, and some sitting and former party MLAs and many workers participated in the protest.

The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday evening held a presser where minister Gopal Rai declared that they plan to 'gherao' or PM Modi's residence in Delhi on March 26.

He also added, "We have decided to protest at Shaheedi Park near ITO in New Delhi tomorrow on March 23. All AAP MLAs, MLCs, AAP post-holders and partners of INDIA bloc will reach the park at 10 am. We will take an oath to save the country from becoming a dictatorship."

A group of leaders from the INDIA bloc parties went to the Election Commission of India to accuse the ruling BJP of using Central Agencies in a relentless, obvious, and unlawful manner to suppress opposition parties ahead of elections after Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested.

In a memorandum submitted to the EC, the INDIA bloc leaders submitted a list of recent instances of central agencies targeting opposition parties and alleged an absence of a level playing field for the opposition.

The leaders also suggested that the poll panel should change the heads of the probe agencies during the election to ensure a 'fair play'.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi who is also representing Arvind Kejriwal for the case, read out to the media the the list of things they mentioned in the memorandum. He said, "...if you had to take action, I am assuming for a minute action is justified... why can't the action be deferred to June-July, what is the need to arrest him today? What is the need to raid him tomorrow? Right in the middle of the election. It is because you want to win by unfair means before the first vote is cast."

The Delhi Court on Friday pronounced its verdict on Arvind Kejriwal's arrest as they remanded him for a six days custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till March 28 in connection with Delhi Excise Policy Scam.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court said Kejriwal will be produced before the court on March 28 at 2 pm.

The court passed the order on the Enforcement Directorate's application seeking a 10-day custody in the case.

Delhi Minister Atishi who was detained by the police on Friday morning for demonstrating against CM Kejriwal's arrest spoke to PTI after Delhi Court pronounced its verdict of sending him to a 6-day ED custody in Delhi Excise Policy scam case, where she claimed with confidence that the running of the Delhi government will not be affected by the CM's absence.

She reportedly said, "The (Delhi) government was running before, and it will continues to run. Arvind Kejriwal was Delhi's CM, is Delhi's CM, and will remain Delhi's CM. No constitutional provision requires him to resign. The entire Cabinet is intact, each department is functioning efficiently."

21 members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, have been released from the Bawana Police station after they were held in custody during the party's demonstration against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at ITO earlier today.

According to the federal agency, Kejriwal, along with ministers of the Delhi government and AAP leaders, conspired in the Delhi Excise scam. They allege that Kejriwal was deeply involved in formulating the excise policy of 2021-22 to favour certain individuals and demanded kickbacks from liquor businessmen in exchange for policy favours.

After AAP leaders claimed that the Delhi government will continue to run like it was so far even after Delhi Court sending him to a 6-day ED custody in Delhi Excise Policy case, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, "We have seen gangs being run from jail, not any government".

Tiwari stated that the residents of Delhi were pleased with the arrest, celebrating by setting off fireworks and sharing sweets.