Citing the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) actions as “illegal,” news reports state that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has filed a petition with the Delhi High Court contesting his arrest and detention in the excise policy matter. It is unlikely that the court will consider the case until March 27, after the Holi holiday.
On March 21, Kejriwal was taken into custody by the Enforcement Department (ED), not long after the High Court denied temporary immunity from coercive measures “at this stage.”
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue court confined Kejriwal to ED custody until March 28 after the ED said he was the main player in the Delhi excise scam.
In his case before the HC, Kejriwal requests an interim injunction prohibiting the Enforcement Department (ED) from using force and to halt the summonses that have been sent out in accordance with Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
After hearing arguments from both sides, a division bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain declared in their ruling dated March 21 that they were not inclined to provide temporary relief in relation to the case at this time.
The application was submitted along with Kejriwal’s major writ petition, which contested the ED’s summonses and a few PMLA clauses.
Protests Over the Arrest
After the arrest of the AAP leader before the upcoming elections, protests from AAP workers hit Delhi, questioning the judiciary. Political leaders from different parties critisized the move calling it a planned action considering the upcoming Lok sabha elections.
Taking to social media, AAP’s Atishi voiced her worries over the party’s office closing during the Lok Sabha elections, raising concerns about the fairness of doing so given the constitution’s guarantee of a “level playing field.”
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj also highlighted the need for impartiality, accusing the Union government of blocking the party’s office access during the Model Code of Conduct. He declared that he will take the Election Commission to task on the issue.
Bharadwaj emphasised in a press conference the significance of the Election Commission functioning as an impartial entity and guaranteeing responsibility for police measures.
Blockades were reportedly encountered by the AAP office, which is situated on DDU Marg close to ITO in central Delhi, during a demonstration organised by party leaders and volunteers close to the BJP headquarters. Bharadwaj emphasised that he and Atishi, as ministers, were barred from entering the office.
He added that Atishi’s car was stopped by police, and he charged them with blocking the AAP office. The office was apparently inaccessible from all sides, and the party plans to file a formal protest about the incident with the Election Commission.
