Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest Aimed At ‘Politically Disabling’ Him Before LS Polls, Lawyer Tells HC | Top Points

Delhi High Court is hearing Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal's plea against his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in excise policy case on Wednesday. Reportedly, US has encouraged India to ensure "a fair, transparent, and timely legal process" for the jailed leader.

The case pertains to the alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's now scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.

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Kejriwal’s petition will be heard by Delhi High Court around 10:30 am today.

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Here is all about the development:

• Delhi High Court likely to pass order around 4.30 pm on Kejriwal's plea: After hearing the arguments, the Delhi HC is likely to pass an order around 4:30 pm on Kejriwal’s plea seeking immediate release in the Delhi liquor excise policy case .

• MEA summons US Diplomat after remarks on Delhi CM: The External Affairs Ministry has summoned the US Diplomat in New Delhi over remarks made by the US on Kejriwal's arrest.

• ED seeks time from Delhi HC to reply to Kejriwal's plea: Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, has sought three weeks time to file a reply to the plea moved by Kejriwal.

• Kejriwal's lawyer to Delhi HC, 'there was no necessity to arrest Delhi CM': Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi has reportedly told the Court that the ED is currently at the “non-trial preliminary intermediate stage” and that there was no necessity to arrest the CM based only on “alleged material”. Singhvi told Delhi High Court that there is no necessity to arrest Kejriwal. Singhvi reportedly told the Court that non-cooperation is most abused phrase by ED.

• 'Arrest aimed at politically disabling Kejriwal': Singhvi tells Delhi High Court that Kejriwal's arrest by ED is aimed at politically disabling him and AAP before upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Singhvi told Delhi HC that Kejriwal's arrest by ED on cusp of elections against basic structure.

• Kejriwal's lawyer pleads for his immediate release: Singhvi also urges Delhi High Court to order immediate release of CM Kejriwal.

• Kejriwal's lawyer questions ED's request for more time: Singhvi appearing for Delhi CM in the case has told the court that ED's request for time to file reply to Kejriwal's challenge to arrest in excise case is a “delay tactic”. During the hearing Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju has reportedly sought time to file a detailed reply to Kejriwal's plea. Advocate Raju has reportedly stated that they got a copy of the petition only yesterday.

• Delhi HC begins hearing on Kejriwal's plea: The Delhi High Court is hearing a petition by jailed Delhi CM Kejriwal challenging his arrest by ED in alleged money-laundering case.

• Kejriwal in his plea has sought his immediate release on account of the arrest and the subsequent remand to ED being “illegal".

• US government is monitoring reports of Kejriwal's arrest and has encouraged its Indian counterpart to ensure "a fair, transparent, and timely legal process" for the jailed Delhi Chief Minister and opposition leader, Reuters report quoted a State Department spokesperson as saying.

• Earlier, Germany while commenting on the Kejriwal’s arrest had said :”We assume and expect that standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case.”

• India reacted strongly to the Germany’s comment on Kejriwal, summoning the German envoy and labelling the Foreign Office spokesperson's remark "blatant interference in internal matters”.

• Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 and was subsequently remanded by Delhi’s Rose Court Avenue to the ED's custody till March 28.

• Kejriwal, in his plea, said he is a "vocal critic" of the ruling BJP at the Centre, an opposition leader and a partner in the INDIA bloc, hence, the ED, which is under the Union government's control, has been "weaponised".

• Kejriwal who is also AAP’s national convener had moved the high court last week, however his request for an urgent hearing was turned down. The Delhi HC was closed for the festival of Holi.

• Kejriwal's arrest came hours after the Delhi High Court last week refused to grant him protection from coercive action by the ED.

• Kejriwal the third top AAP leader after Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh to be sent to judicial custody in the excise policy case.

• In the ED's chargesheet, Kejriwal's name has been mentioned multiple times. ED has alleged that the accused in the excise policy case were in touch with Kejriwal for formulating the liquor policy that resulted in undue benefits to them in return for which they paid kickbacks to the AAP.