The recent arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate has sparked controversy ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. ED defends the arrest citing evidence of money laundering, while AAP accuses ED of being politically motivated. The case involves alleged corruption in the Delhi government’s excise policy, with AAP being accused of benefiting from the scam proceeds. Despite the ongoing legal battle, ED assures that free elections will remain unaffected by the arrest of criminal politicians.
In a recent turn of events, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has defended the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal just before the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fired back, accusing the ED of being a “political wing of the BJP” and claiming that Kejriwal’s arrest was a move to hinder his election campaigning efforts.
The ED has stated that Kejriwal was uncooperative during the investigation, failed to comply with summonses, and was non-compliant during questioning. They have emphasized that the arrest is a crucial part of their ongoing investigation, citing evidence of money laundering against Kejriwal.
In response, AAP has refuted the ED’s claims, asserting that there is no concrete evidence linking Kejriwal to any money trail. However, the ED has accused AAP of being the major beneficiary of proceeds from the Delhi excise policy scam, alleging that around Rs 45 crore in cash was utilized in AAP’s 2022 Goa assembly poll campaign.
The ED further asserts that as the national convenor of AAP, Kejriwal holds responsibility for the funds used in the election campaign. Kejriwal was taken into custody on March 21 and is presently in judicial custody at Tihar jail. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest in connection to the alleged corruption and money laundering in the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, the ED has assured that free and fair elections will not be impacted by the arrest of politicians involved in criminal activities. The Delhi High Court previously upheld Kejriwal’s arrest, citing his failure to attend summonses and cooperate with the investigation. The ED has dismissed Kejriwal’s petition contesting his arrest as “devoid of merit.”
As the case continues to unfold, it remains a point of contention between the ED and AAP, raising significant questions about the intersection of politics and law enforcement in India. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
