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The Delhi High Court will today hear Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week and a trial court's order that remanded him in the agency's custody for a week.

 

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma will preside over the matter at 10.30 am today. The petition contesting the arrest of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was lodged on April 23, two days following his arrest in a money laundering case linked to Delhi's now-defunct excise policy.

 

A day after his arrest, Kejriwal had sought relief from the Supreme Court. However, he subsequently withdrew his petition, with his counsel, Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, indicating intentions to challenge the remand proceedings before the trial court and return to the apex court with a fresh petition.

 

After that, he was presented before the Rouse Avenue court, which remanded him in custody for a week.

 

The ED's money laundering case stems from a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2022, alleging irregularities in the liquor policy.

 

The CBI case, filed based on a complaint by Delhi's Centre-appointed Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, alleges that senior AAP leaders intentionally introduced loopholes in the policy to benefit certain licensees.

 

The ED contends that Kejriwal was a key conspirator in the case. AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, along with Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha, have been arrested in connection with the case.

 

The Opposition leaders have refuted the allegations and accused the BJP-led central government of exploiting probe agencies such as the ED and CBI for political purposes.

 

The AAP has also criticised the BJP for the timing of the arrest, alleging that it was an attempt to hinder Kejriwal's campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The party, currently in power in Delhi, maintains that Kejriwal will continue as Chief Minister.

 

AAP ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj have asserted that the Chief Minister is issuing directives from the ED's custody, assuring Delhi residents that he remains committed to their welfare.