The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and subsequent remand in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal moved the top court after the Delhi High Court dismissed his plea on April 9, rejecting his claims of political vendetta amid the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The high court ruled that the ED had sufficient grounds to justify the arrest, citing Kejriwal's alleged non-cooperation with the agency, which had summoned him nine times in the case.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta will preside over the matter.
In a 103-page judgment, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court stated that the timing of Kejriwal's arrest could not be blamed on the probe agency, noting the consequences of his lack of cooperation. The AAP leader was arrested on March 21 as part of the money laundering probe related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy. He was then sent to judicial custody until April 15.
Kejriwal's arrest marks the first instance of a sitting Chief Minister being arrested in such a case. Currently lodged in Tihar jail, Kejriwal is contesting the charges alongside other AAP leaders like Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, who have also been embroiled in the excise policy case. Sanjay Singh recently walked out of jail on bail.
The Delhi excise policy case revolves around allegations of corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the city's excise policy for 2021-22. The policy aimed to revamp Delhi's liquor business by introducing a license fee system for traders, replacing the previous sales-volume-based regime. However, it was scrapped after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena requested a CBI probe, citing irregularities.
According to the CBI and ED, AAP leaders purportedly accepted kickbacks totaling Rs 100 crore from politicians and liquor businessmen to grant licenses under the excise policy, and the money was allegedly used in Punjab and Goa assembly elections. The central agencies have alleged the involvement of a certain 'South Group' in these irregularities.