Today(on15th April),The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) following a plea by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, challenging his arrest and remand in a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on15th April), The Supreme Court of India called upon the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to address the concerns raised by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), regarding his apprehension and the ensuing detention related to allegations of money laundering tied to the Delhi excise policy.
The bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, scheduled the case for further examination on April 29.
The court issued a directive, stating-
“Notice issued, returnable on April 24. Respondents present in court on caveat accept notice. Reply to be submitted by April 24, with rejoinder due by April 27.”
During the legal proceedings, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, requested an accelerated hearing. However, the court upheld its decision to reconvene on April 29.
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Singhvi emphasized the peculiar timing of Kejriwal’s arrest, noting-
“The arrest on March 16 is notable considering the case was registered long ago… The first round of polling is on April 19,”
The bench, well-informed of the case details, noted-
“We are familiar with the facts and have reviewed the paper documents. You should not have presented arguments after we issued notice.”
Kejriwal’s plea to the Supreme Court came on the heels of the Delhi High Court’s rejection of his earlier plea, where the High Court found sufficient evidence of Kejriwal’s involvement in the scam. It was also noted that the funds allegedly acquired through corrupt means were utilized for political campaigning during the 2022 Goa legislative assembly elections, thus adding layers of complexity to the allegations against him.
The ED’s investigation originated from a complaint filed by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on July 20, 2022. This led the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to commence a probe on August 17, 2022. The investigation focuses on alleged irregularities in the drafting of the Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22, involving several AAP leaders such as former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh, among others.
ALSO READ: Chronology of Delhi Excise Policy Case Involving Arvind Kejriwal
The allegations suggest a deliberate conspiracy to exploit policy loopholes for the benefit of certain licensees and conspirators post-tender, painting a picture of systemic corruption and manipulation.
After being arrested by the ED on March 21, Kejriwal was taken into the agency’s custody and later transferred to judicial custody. He is currently detained in Tihar Jail.
CASE TITLE:
Arvind Kejriwal vs Directorate of Enforcement
