The Delhi High Court has declined Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s request for an urgent hearing on his petition challenging his arrest and the Enforcement Directorate’s custody order for seven days. Kejriwal’s arrest stems from the ongoing liquor policy case, with the high court setting a hearing date for next week.
Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the liquor policy case. Subsequently, the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Kejriwal until March 28. In response, Kejriwal filed a petition challenging his arrest and sought an urgent hearing by Sunday.
However, the Delhi High Court has scheduled the matter for reopening on Wednesday, the first working day following the Holi holidays. This decision was confirmed by the high court’s registry.
In his petition filed on Saturday, Kejriwal argued that his arrest and the custody order were illegal. The high court had earlier declined to grant him protection from arrest on Thursday, leading to his detention by the ED.
Meanwhile, protests are planned by AAP in all 70 Assembly constituencies of Delhi on Sunday, alleging that Kejriwal’s arrest is part of a conspiracy by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party accuses the BJP of misusing agencies to target opposition leaders. The protests will include candle marches and effigy burning to express dissent against Kejriwal’s arrest.
The ED is investigating the money laundering aspect of the alleged scam related to the Delhi liquor policy of 2021-22. The agency has accused Kejriwal of being the “kingpin” and a key conspirator in the case. The policy, which was later scrapped, allegedly provided significant profit margins, with kickbacks purportedly directed to AAP leaders. The ED claims that a lobby known as the South Group advanced ₹100 crore to another accused linked to the ruling party in Delhi.
Sources By Agencies