In a seismic development that has sent shockwaves through the national capital’s political landscape, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged liquor policy scam. This arrest marks a significant moment as it is the first time a sitting Chief Minister has faced such legal action.

Arvind Kejriwal Arrest and Investigation

The ED, which had been probing the money laundering angle in the case, took Mr. Kejriwal into custody after two hours of questioning. Earlier in the evening, an ED team had arrived at Kejriwal’s residence to serve him a summons. The developments prompted the Delhi Police to heighten security around his home.

Political Reactions

The arrest has sparked intense reactions from various political quarters:

• Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader, minced no words in his criticism. He accused the government of creating a “dead democracy” and expressed concern over the erosion of democratic institutions. In a strongly-worded statement, he said, “A scared dictator wants to create a dead democracy. While capturing all the institutions, including the media, breaking up political parties, and extorting money from companies, now the arrest of elected Chief Ministers has also become commonplace. INDIA will give a befitting reply to this.”
• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on the other hand, demanded Kejriwal’s immediate resignation. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva asserted that the arrest was a victory against corruption. He stated, “Today, every citizen of Delhi is satisfied that the chief minister, implicated in allegations of corruption, has finally been arrested. Kejriwal should resign immediately.”

Legal Proceedings

Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), will be produced before a court in Delhi on Friday. The ED is expected to seek his custody for further interrogation in the case. The liquor scam, which unfolded in Delhi during 2021-22, exposed instances of corruption and money laundering.

As the nation closely watches this high-profile arrest, questions about the impact on Delhi’s political landscape and the future of the AAP government remain unanswered. Stay tuned for further updates as this case unfolds.

Note: The Delhi High Court had earlier refused to grant Kejriwal protection from coercive action by the ED.