In setback for Kejriwal, SC won't hear his plea today
The Supreme Court refused to hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's petition against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy on Wednesday. According to the SC's calendar, the court is closed for Eid-Ul-Fitr on Thursday, a local holiday on Friday, then comes the weekend. The SC is now expected to review the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader's petition when it reconvenes on Monday.
Why does this story matter?
On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court dismissed Kejriwal's objections to his arrest, ruling that the federal agency had no other option but to act after the CM failed to respond to multiple summonses in a money laundering investigation. The ED has accused Kejriwal of playing a significant role in both utilizing and hiding alleged illicit funds generated through the excise policy "scam." Notably, on March 21, Kejriwal became the first sitting CM to be arrested by a law enforcement agency.
No special bench for Kejriwal's appeal hearing
Kejriwal's counsel, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, raised the matter before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Wednesday morning and sought an urgent hearing. Chandrachud, however, refused to specify if a hearing would be granted on Wednesday, saying, "We will see; we will look into it." The court also decided not to form a special bench for an immediate hearing on Kejriwal's appeal.
What did Delhi HC say
The Delhi High Court upheld Kejriwal's arrest and remand by the ED as "valid" on Tuesday. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma of the bench stated that there was sufficient evidence in the ED's possession which justified their action against Kejriwal. The ED, which has tagged Kejriwal as the "kingpin" of the alleged scam, has opposed his petition. It said, "Aam aadmi has to go behind bars if he has committed a crime...because you are a chief minister you can't be arrested?"
What is the excise policy case
The case revolves around alleged irregularities and money laundering in the creation and execution of the excise policy 2021-22, which was later scrapped. The ED has alleged that the AAP is a significant beneficiary of the illicit funds generated from the "scam." It has also alleged that the money was funneled into the party's poll campaign for Goa and Punjab. Former Delhi Minister Manish Sisodia and Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha are currently incarcerated in relation to this case.
