Arvind Kejriwal Moves Delhi High Court Challenging Arrest, ED Remand In Liquor Policy Case

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has moved the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest by Enforcement Directorate (ED) and six days of remand in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam case.

Kejriwal was arrested by ED on March 21 at around 9 PM. Yesterday, the trial court had remanded him to ED custody till March 28. 

As per Aam Aadmi Party's legal team, the plea submits that the arrest and remand are illegal and thus, Kejriwal is entitled to be released immediately.

Kejriwal has sought urgent listing of the matter.

Kejriwal was produced before the trial court following his arrest by the central probe agency, hours after a division bench of the Delhi High Court refused to pass orders granting him interim protection from coercive action.

Kejriwal had skipped nine summons issued to him by ED. Aam Aadmi Party leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are also accused in the case and are presently in judicial custody.

Also Read: Delhi Court Remands Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal To ED Custody In Liquor Policy Case Till March 28

Following his arrest, Kejriwal had promptly moved an urgent petition before the Supreme Court challenging his arrest. However, the same was withdrawn earlier today.

Moreover, he has previously moved the Delhi High Court challenging the summons issued to him by the central probe agency. He has also filed an application seeking interim protection. The matter is fixed for hearing on April 22.

Earlier, ED had filed two criminal complaints against Kejriwal in city's Rouse Avenue Courts alleging non-compliance of the summons by him. Kejriwal has skipped the summons, claiming that they are illegal.

ED has alleged that the excise policy was implemented as part of a conspiracy to give wholesale business profit of 12 percent to certain private companies, although such a stipulation was not mentioned in the minutes of meetings of Group of Ministers (GoM).

The Central agency has also claimed that there was a conspiracy that was coordinated by Vijay Nair and other individuals along with South Group to give extraordinary profit margins to wholesalers.

Nair was acting on behalf of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, according to the agency.