Delhi CM Kejriwal arrested by ED in liquor policy case

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: In a controversial move which could drastically impact the campaign for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Admi Party(AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday night in an excise policy-linked money laundering case.

The arrest came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the agency.

The 55-year-old leader's arrest, amid campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, drew angry reactions from his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The BJP though demanded that Kejriwal step down as chief minister on moral grounds.

In a day of fast-paced developments, a 10-member ED team led by an additional director reached his official residence on Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines in the national capital soon after the high court order and carried out searches.

He was arrested more than two hours after the ED team arrived at his residence, officials said. Officials said the ED would produce the chief minister before a court here on Friday and seek his custody for interrogation in the case.

Kejriwal had skipped nine summonses issued by the agency for questioning in the case, the latest being for Thursday, March 21. He has called these summonses "illegal".

During the day, Kejriwal moved the Supreme Court against the high court's order denying him any relief in the matter.

Later, AAP leader Atishi said they have moved the Supreme Court for quashing the arrest of Kejriwal and "asked for an urgent hearing...tonight itself."

The ED's action is virtually a replay of what transpired during the arrest last week of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, who is now in ED custody in the same case.

The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped. AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are in judicial custody in the case.

Atishi who were among those gathered outside the CM's residence, told reporters, "This episode shows how scared PM Modi is of Kejriwal. He has hatched a conspiracy to send him to jail before the Lok Sabha election."

Reacting to the ED action, AAP MP Raghav Chadha alleged a "big conspiracy" to arrest Kejriwal before the Lok Sabha elections.

Arvind will remain CM... even in jail: AAP

Angry AAP leaders said Arvind Kejriwal "will continue as the chief minister of Delhi. If need be, he will run the government from jail," they averred after the arrest of the high profile leader.