High Court: AAP’s Kejriwal’s Arrest Valid, ED Adhered to Regulations, Statements from Operators and AAP Candidates

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday pronounced its verdict on the arrest and remand of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The court dismissed the Chief Minister’s plea. Kejriwal had filed a plea challenging the arrest on March 23. The court stated that the plea was to ascertain whether the arrest was illegal or not. However, the plea does not provide grounds for bail.

High Court’s Decision on Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest and Remand

In the case of the arrest and remand of Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi High Court had issued a notice. The court rejected the plea challenging the arrest. Kejriwal had filed a plea challenging the arrest on March 23. The hearing for this matter took place on April 3. Subsequently, the court kept the decision anonymous.

Justice Swarnakant Sharma’s Remarks on the Case

Justice Swarnakant Sharma stated after the decision that there is no case between the central government and Kejriwal, but it’s between ED and him. The agency has arrested him in connection with a money laundering case. No special privileges can be granted. The ED has provided complete evidence. The Chief Minister cannot be exempted from interrogation. He is bound by the law, not by politics.

Revelations in the Case against Arvind Kejriwal

Justice Swarnakant Sharma mentioned that the petitions of Raghav Mungata and Sharath Reddy have been noted under the PMLA. ED has compiled evidence against Kejriwal that he was involved in the conspiracy and was completely involved. ED revealed that in this case, Kejriwal was also involved as a common man party convener. Doubts about how to record the statements of government witnesses are equal to defaming the court and the judge.

Courtroom LIVE

• The Court said – There is a law that is 100 years old, not a year old, which has been misused to frame the accused.
• We cannot see who gave tickets to fight elections and who gave election bonds.
• Through Kejriwal’s video-conferencing, it is possible to challenge such claims. The accused cannot be certain how the investigation will proceed.
• According to the allegations, the investigation cannot be conducted.
• The Court said regarding arrest – The issue is about questioning arrests. Our belief is that arrests and remand investigations will be according to the law and not based on the attention to election times.
• Even if a person is a Chief Minister, special privileges cannot be granted to them.
• Kejriwal will be cautious about election dates. He will get to know when the election will be held. It cannot be said that the time of arrest has been decided by the ED.
• Judges are bound by the law, not by politics. The court cannot interfere in the world of politics.

Kejriwal’s Legal Battles: A Timeline

April 1st: Kejriwal’s Bail Plea Rejected

Earlier, on April 1st, the court dismissed Kejriwal’s bail plea and remanded him in judicial custody until April 15th. He was arrested by Delhi’s CM’s ED on March 21st in the liquor policy case and has been in Tihar Jail for the last 9 days.

April 21st: Kejriwal Moves SC, Gets Pulled Back

On March 21st, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had filed a petition in the Supreme Court against his arrest by the ED. The next day, Kejriwal’s lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi informed Supreme Court Justice Sanjiv Khanna that Kejriwal had withdrawn his petition.

March 22nd: Kejriwal Appears in Rouse Avenue Court

Following his arrest in the liquor policy case, Kejriwal was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court on March 22nd. The court had granted him ED remand until March 28th, after which he was further extended until April 1st. On April 1st, the court released him on judicial custody until April 15th.

March 23rd: Appeal in Delhi High Court Against Arrest and Remand

On March 23rd, Kejriwal had filed an appeal in the Delhi High Court against his arrest. The High Court had issued a notice to the ED on March 27th, demanding a response by April 2nd. Subsequently, the hearing date was fixed for April 3rd.

April 3rd: High Court Completes Hearing, Reserves Verdict

On April 3rd, the hearing on Kejriwal’s plea was completed in the High Court. The verdict was reserved by Justice S. M. Sharma. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and advocate Vikram Chaudhary presented their arguments. ASG A.S. Savji had argued on behalf of the ED. After hearing both sides, the court kept the decision pending.

Kejriwal Faces Nine Summons in Liquor Policy Case

Before Kejriwal’s arrest in the liquor policy case, the ED had issued nine summons. These were issued on March 17th, February 27th, February 26th, February 22nd, February 2nd, January 17th, January 3rd, and on December 21st and November 2nd, 2023, respectively. He did not appear for questioning even once. Subsequently, on March 21st, the ED team reached Kejriwal’s house with the 10th summons and a search warrant.

Kejriwal, the first sitting CM to be arrested, has earlier been arrested by the ED. Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren was also arrested by the ED. Soren resigned from the Raj Bhavan to avoid arrest by the ED.