Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Arrested in Connection with Excise Policy Case

New Delhi:  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s legal woes seem to have escalated as he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday in connection with the excise policy case.

A team from the ED descended upon the residence of Delhi’s Chief Minister in the evening to question him regarding the excise policy case. Reports indicate that during the operation, the ED seized 4-5 phones and two tablets from the CM’s residence.

This development transpired just hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant interim protection to Kejriwal against arrest in response to summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor policy scam case.

The ED team, armed with a search warrant in the excise policy case, informed Kejriwal’s staff at his residence of their intent to carry out the search.

Simultaneously, sources revealed that Delhi CM’s legal team has filed a petition challenging the High Court’s decision denying interim relief in the excise policy case, with efforts underway to secure an urgent hearing before the Supreme Court, even contemplating a midnight hearing.

In response to the developments, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed outside Kejriwal’s residence.

The Delhi High Court, in its verdict, refused to pass any protective order for Kejriwal, scheduling further consideration of his plea for interim protection on April 22, along with his main petition challenging the ED’s summons.

The case revolves around alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently annulled. Key AAP figures Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are already in judicial custody in connection with this case. Kejriwal’s name has prominently featured in the charge sheets filed by the ED, with allegations suggesting that the accused were in collusion with the CM to manipulate the excise policy for their personal gain, purportedly through kickbacks to the AAP.