Arvind Kejriwal, convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and chief minister of Delhi, was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday evening. He was detained on suspicion of money laundering and corruption in relation to the development and implementation of the excise policy for 2021-22 by the Delhi government, which was subsequently discontinued.
On Friday, Mr. Kejriwal is scheduled to appear before a special court. The AAP stated that it has petitioned the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing on the motion to rescind the arrest.
After former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha Member Sanjay Singh, and the former party's communications in-charge Vijay Nair, Mr. Kejriwal is the fourth Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to have been arrested in connection with the case. In addition, Satyendar Kumar Jain, who had previously served as Delhi's Health Minister, was arrested in connection with another case.
The Delhi High Court denied Mr. Kejriwal any immediate protection against coercive action in the excise policy-related money laundering case earlier in the day. The application for protection filed by the AAP leader was adjudicated by the High Court until April 22, the same day that the primary petition challenging the summons was scheduled to be heard by Mr. Kejriwal. The court stated, "We have heard both sides and are not inclined to grant protection at this time."
In the evening, ED officials and Delhi police officers arrived at the official residence of Mr. Kejriwal. Upon hearing the ED's action, State Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj hastily arrived at the location, but was denied entry.
In anticipation of potential disturbances, Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force units were stationed outside the premises, and the police also utilized drones to conduct surveillance of the area. Following a brief series of interrogations, Mr. Kejriwal was apprehended by the agency. AAP supporters began to demonstrate at 9:15 p.m., chanting anti-BJP slogans in opposition to the BJP-led Union government. The police in Delhi apprehended a number of the protestors.
According to the senior leadership of the AAP, the detention of the Chief Minister of Delhi prior to the election was primarily intended to prevent him from campaigning and to drown out the voices of those who are opposed to the government. According to Atishi, a senior official of the party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP do not comprehend the fact that they will not be able to stifle Mr. Kejriwal by employing the ED.
