ED Arrests Arvind Kejriwal In Excise Policy Case; AAP Challenges Move In Supreme Court

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. According to Zee News TV, the ED will produce Kejriwal before a PMLA court tomorrow. He was taken to the ED Headquarters in Delhi around 11pm after the arrest that took place 9.15 pm. Earlier this evening, a team from the Enforcement Directorate visited the residence of the Delhi Chief Minister for questioning in connection with the alleged money laundering case related to the Delhi Excise policy scam. Senior Delhi Police officials including ACP rank officers and DCP North Manoj Meena were present at the CM's residence when the raid was going on. The security around the Delhi CM's residence was increased before the arrest, paramilitary personnel were deployed and section 144 was imposed in the area to prevent the gathering of AAP workers.

Several AAP workers including Delhi Ministers reached the Delhi CM's residence after the ED raid news and sloganeered against the BJP while supporting Kejriwal. Since the Section 144 was in force, the security forces detained several AAP workers. Earlier when the ED raid was underway, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi said that Arvind Kejriwal won't seek urgent hearing on plea for protection in the Supreme Court. However, soon after the ED arrested Kejriwal, AAP leader and Delhi Minister Aitishi said that the party moved the Supreme Court for quashing the arrest of Delhi CM by the ED. "We have asked for an urgent hearing by the Supreme Court tonight itself," said Atishi. She further said that Kejriwal won't resign from the post and will continue to work from behind the bars. However, the SC refused to hear the matter tonight. Thus, CM Kejriwal will be spending his night in the ED office.

ED Raid At Delhi CM: Watch Live Coverage Here

The raid began at around 7 pm and around 8pm, additional team of some ED officials and paramilitary forces reached Delhi CM Kejriwal's residence. According to Zee News TV, around 12 ED officials were present inside Delhi CM's residence for searches and questioning. While Arvind Kejriwal's personal phone was not reachable, all landline connections at his residence were also terminated temporarily. 

Opposition leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav slammed the BJP government saying that the Centre is trying to destroy the democracy in India.

Also Read: Priyanka Gandhi Backs Arvind Kejriwal After ED Action

The ED's action came after the Delhi High Court today denied interim relief to the Delhi CM in the ED summons case related to the liquor policy. The ED team has reached CM's residence with a search warrant. Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, who reached Kejriwal's residence shortly after the ED raid commenced, said that he was not allowed to go inside. AAP minister Atishi accused the ED of ignoring the HC order and questioned the central probe agency's rush to arrest Kejriwal.

It may be noted that the Delhi CM has moved to the High Court against the ED summons seeking a direction to the central probe agency to not take any coercive action against him. However, while the Delhi HC refused to provide any interim relief to Kejriwal, it also asked the ED to submit its reply in the case by April 22. However, Delhi CM's legal team also moved to the Supreme Court and filed a petition challenging the High Court's order denying interim relief to him in the Excise policy case summons issued by the ED. 

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also reacted to the ED raid. "BJP's political team (ED) cannot arrest Kejriwal's thinking...because only AAP can stop BJP. Ideology/thinking can never be suppressed," said Mann. Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal alleged political conspiracy. "All efforts are underway to arrest the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is providing world class education-health-electricity-water facilities in Delhi. Arresting him just before the elections in a case that has been going on for 2 years shows political conspiracy. The whole of Delhi and the whole country is with Kejriwal," said Maliwal.