Arrest of Arvind Kejriwal
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Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, India, was arrested on 21 March 2024 around 09:00 pm IST after not responding to nine summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi liquor scam, becoming the first sitting chief minister in Indian history to be arrested.[1][2][3] He was given interim bail by the Supreme Court of India from 10 May 2024 to 1 June 2024 to campaign for 2024 Indian general election.[4][5] Kejriwal surrendered at the Tihar Jail on 2 June 2024 after the expiration of this bail.[6] A Delhi trial court granted bail to Kejriwal on 20 June, which was stayed by the Delhi High Court on 21 May before he could be released.[7] Kejriwal was questioned for three days and arrested on 26 June 2024 by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from Tihar Jail and subsequently was sent to judicial custody till 12 July.[8][9] The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam on 12 July 2024. However, he remains in Tihar Jail as he was also arrested by CBI in corruption case related to the alleged liquor policy scam.[10][11]
Background
In June 2022, a batch of complaints alleging a “multi-crore scam” in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, one of which was filed with the Delhi Police by former Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar Chaudhary.[12] Kejriwal and his allies had been accused by political rivals, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of selling liquor licences and receiving kickbacks from private vendors. The ED had alleged that it had evidence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) receiving millions of dollars from a liquor group.[13] Several high-ranking members of the AAP had previously been arrested in connection with the scam, including Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia in March 2023.[14]
Arrest
Kejriwal received nine summons from the ED for the investigation of the scam.[15] Kejriwal skipped all of the Ed summons and was arrested on 21 March 2024 following a raid on his home by the Enforcement Directorate. As he was being taken away, supporters and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers were protesting outside his residence.[16][17] AAP leaders alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party collected protection money of worth ₹60 crore (US$7.2 million) in the form of Electoral Bonds from the alleged liquor Scam kingpin Sarath Chandra Reddy's Aurobindo Pharma Limited per a report who later became an approver.[18] Kejriwal was remanded until 28 March 2024, and remained in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).[19] The Delhi High Court dismissed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's petition against his arrest.[20][21][22][23][24]
On 10 May, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail on the case till 1 June 2024 in view of campaigning for 2024 Indian general election.[25][26] Kejriwal surrendered at the Tihar Jail on 2 June 2024 after the expiration of this bail.[6] A Delhi trial court granted bail to Kejriwal on 20 June but the bail was stayed by the Delhi High Court on 21 June before could be released.[7] Kejriwal was questioned for 3 days and arrested on 26 June 2024 by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from Tihar Jail and subsequently was sent to judicial custody till 12 July.[8][9] The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam on 12 July 2024, however, he remains in Tihar Jail as he was also arrested by CBI in corruption case related to the alleged liquor policy scam.[10][11]
Reaction
Domestic
The arrest caused numerous protests in Delhi on 26 March 2024, with AAP supporters marching to the Prime Minister's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg while BJP supporters demanding Kejriwal's resignation marched to the Secretariat Building, New Delhi.[19]
Delhi Cabinet Minister Raaj Kumar Anand resigned as minister of social welfare and also tendered his resignation from the AAP. He said that did not want his name to be associated with “corruption” after Delhi High Court's rejection of Kejriwal's bail.[27]
Prominent opposition leaders have voiced strong opposition to Kejriwal's arrest, framing it as part of a broader authoritarian trend under the current government. Rahul Gandhi, for instance, described the central government's actions as those of a "scared dictator" aiming to create a "dead democracy".[28][29]
International
United Nations:
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, "We very much hope that in India, as in any country that is having elections, that everyone's rights are protected, including political and civil rights, and everyone is able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair."[30]
United States:
- United States Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. We are also aware of the Congress party's allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections." A spokesperson for the United States Department of State said that the US was closely following reports of Kejriwal's arrest and that they "encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal".[31]
- In response, Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India's legal processes were "based on an independent judiciary" and that they were "committed to objective and timely outcomes."[32]
- United States Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. We are also aware of the Congress party's allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections." A spokesperson for the United States Department of State said that the US was closely following reports of Kejriwal's arrest and that they "encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal".[31]
Germany:
- A spokesperson for the German Federal Foreign Office said Germany "takes note" of Kejriwal's arrest and expected that the "standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles" will also apply to this case.
- In response, the MEA said that the remarks were seen as "interfering in our judicial process" and "undermining the independence of our judiciary".[31]
- A spokesperson for the German Federal Foreign Office said Germany "takes note" of Kejriwal's arrest and expected that the "standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles" will also apply to this case.
- Amnesty International, an international human rights group said that the arrest of Kejriwal and the "freezing of Indian National Congress’ bank accounts", a few weeks before India's general elections showed "the authorities’ blatant failure to uphold the country’s international human rights obligations".[33][34]
See also
References
- ^ "Arvind Kejriwal arrested by Enforcement Directorate in Delhi Excise policy case". The Hindu. PTI. 21 March 2024. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ Sehran, Sohil (21 March 2024). "Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrested by ED in excise policy case". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Arvind Kejriwal Arrest Highlights: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sent to ED custody till March 28 in liquor policy case". The Times of India. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Arvind Kejriwal Interim Bail Hearing LIVE Updates: Arvind Kejriwal Gets Interim Bail Till June 1". NDTV.com. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "SC grants interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal till June 1 in excise policy case". The Indian Express. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Arvind Kejriwal surrenders at Tihar jail after interim bail ends, says don't know when will I return". 2 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Big Setback For Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi High Court Pauses Bail Order". NDTV.com. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrested by CBI from Tihar jail - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Excise policy case: Arvind Kejriwal sent to 14-day judicial custody of CBI". The Times of India. 29 June 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b "SC grants interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal, refers plea challenging ED arrest to larger Bench". The Hindu. 12 July 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Arvind Kejriwal Supreme Court Verdict Live Updates: SC grants interim bail, but Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to remain in Tihar jail". The Times of India. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Congress's Kejriwal dilemma deepens as it balances ties with AAP – friends in Delhi, foes in Punjab". 23 March 2024.
- ^ Shih, Gerry (21 March 2024). "India arrests Delhi chief minister as crackdown on opposition spreads". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ PTI (9 March 2023). "Delhi excise policy case | ED arrests Manish Sisodia on money laundering charges". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Kakkar, Shruti (20 March 2024). ""Why don't you appear on receiving ED summons": Delhi HC asks Arvind Kejriwal". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Mogul, Rhea (21 March 2024). "Delhi chief arrested as opposition party alleges 'huge conspiracy' ahead of Indian election". CNN. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "Delhi chief minister Kejriwal arrested in liquor graft case". Reuters.
- ^ "AAP asks BJP why did it take ₹60-crore bribe from 'Delhi liquor scam kingpin'". 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b Mahajan, Satvika; Tewari, Samridhi (26 March 2024). "High drama in Delhi as AAP, BJP hold protests". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Jaiswal, Arushi (1 April 2024). "CM Arvind Kejriwal will not resign, to run government from jail: AAP". India TV. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Can Arvind Kejriwal run govt from jail? Experts have different opinions". The Times of India. 28 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Jain, Aishvarya (9 April 2024). ""Judges Not Bound By Politics": High Court Dismisses Arvind Kejriwal's Petition". NDTV.com. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Anand, Akriti (9 April 2024). "'Arvind Kejriwal's arrest in liquor case valid': Delhi HC rejects CM's plea". mint. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Ojha, Srishti (9 April 2024). "Arvind Kejriwal's plea against arrest dismissed, court says he 'conspired'". India Today. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Arvind Kejriwal gets interim bail till June 1 for election campaigning". The Times of India. 10 May 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ The Hindu (10 May 2024). "Arvind Kejriwal bail | Grant of interim bail is based on individual facts of each case, Supreme Court notes". Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Delhi Minister Raaj Kumar Anand turns on Kejriwal as he quits AAP". The Hindu. PTI. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Arvind Kejriwal Arrest Highlights: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sent to ED custody till March 28 in liquor policy case". The Times of India. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ Paranjape, Makarand R. (15 April 2024). "With Kejriwal in jail, Aam Aadmi Party's future is uncertain". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ Abbas, Ajmal (29 March 2024). "UN reacts to Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, hopes 'everyone's rights are protected'". India Today.
- ^ a b "US encourages 'fair, transparent' process for arrested Indian opposition figure". Reuters. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "India rejects remarks by US, Germany on opposition leader Kejriwal's arrest". Al Jazeera. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Mogul, Rhea (28 March 2024). "India summons US State Department official over call for fair legal treatment of arrested opposition leader". CNN. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "India: Crackdown on opposition reaches a crisis point ahead of national elections". Amnesty International. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.