New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on Thursday in the alleged liquor policy scam, even as his lawyers moved the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing challenging the Delhi High Court order denying him any protection.
However, he did not receive any special hearing late at night. His plea is likely to be listed for hearing on Friday.
“CM is arrested,” Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj posted on X.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) took the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener into custody from his official residence in connection with money laundering linked to the excise policy case.
An ED team reached the AAP chief's residence in the Thursday evening hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him any protection at this stage of the case.
As the ED began grilling him, Kejriwal’s lawyer Abhishek Manu Singvi approached the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud for an urgent hearing.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters, Bharadwaj said, "This time everyone knows that just a few hours ago, the matter was in the Delhi High Court. The High Court has given time to ED till 22 April, told to file a reply on why the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is crucial. In a way, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is now inside Arvind Kejriwal's residence; there is a heavy deployment of police outside his house.”
On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court sought the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) response over Kejriwal's plea challenging nine summons issued by ED against him in connection with the money laundering case related to the alleged excise liquor policy scam.
Kejriwal earlier skipped multiple summons of the agency in the case.
Kejriwal won't resign, he'll run Delhi govt from jail: Atishi
The AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi Marlena said, ''Arvind Kejriwal is Delhi Chief Minister, and he will remain Delhi Chief Minister; this is absolutely clear''.
''Kejriwal will run the government from jail, '' she said.
The Delhi Minister said AAP has challenged Kejriwal's arrest in Supreme Court.
AAP announces nationwide protest against BJP
AAP leader Gopal Rai announced nationwide protests to be held today against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on allegations of corruption linked to the city's liquor policy.
The AAP leaders will start the protest at 10 am at the BJP headquarters which will eventually spread across the country.
