Delhi: AAP’s national convenor and Delhi CM  Arvind Kejriwal arrested by ED

New Delhi :  The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after brief questioning on Thursday evening in the Delhi Excise Policy scam case. Kejriwal became the first sitting Chief Minister of the country to be arrested. After the arresting Atishi, a minister in the Delhi government, said that he will not resign, but will continue to be the CM.

Hours after the High Court refused to object to ‘coercive action’ in the ongoing case, ED officials arrived at Kejriwal’s residence for search and questioning. The Enforcement Directorate arrested Arvind Kejriwal on charges of alleged corruption and money laundering in the Delhi Excise Policy case. Hours after the High Court refused to grant security to Kejriwal for ‘coercive action’ by the investigating agency, a team from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) immediately reached the Chief Minister’s residence to conduct a search. To ensure security of the operation, additional personnel from Delhi Police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and CRPF were deployed around the Chief Minister’s residence.

The enhanced security was imposed in response to ED’s request for additional measures due to possible protests by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters. According to officials, the Chief Minister was arrested shortly after. ED officials are expected to produce the Chief Minister in court on Friday and request his custody for questioning. A large crowd of AAP workers and leaders gathered near the Chief Minister’s residence and expressed dissatisfaction over the ED action. The Delhi Excise Policy case involves allegations of corruption and money laundering in the development and implementation of the Delhi Government’s Excise Policy for 2021-2022, which was ultimately quashed. AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are currently in judicial custody in this case.

Kejriwal’s name has been mentioned repeatedly in the charge sheet filed by the ED. The agency claims that the accused persons were in touch with Kejriwal to formulate the excise policy, in return for which they allegedly received ‘undue benefits’. It is said that in return he gave a bribe to you. AAP leader Atishi says, We have received the news that ED has arrested Arvind Kejriwal… We have always said that Arvind Kejriwal will run the government from jail. Have moved the Supreme Court to cancel the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. We have demanded an immediate hearing from the Supreme Court tonight itself. After the arrest many supporters of AAP party has come to protest in late evening but in vain. Police stopped them to protest aggressively.