Arrest of Arvind Kejriwal
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Incumbent Electoral Performance Legislative Assembly Media Activism
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The chief minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on 21 March 2024 around 09:00 pm IST after not responding to nine summons from the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case, becoming the first sitting chief minister in Indian history to be arrested.[1][2][3]
Background[edit]
In June 2022, a batch of complaints alleging a “multi-crore scam” in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, one of which was filed with the Delhi Police by former Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar Chaudhary.[4] Kejriwal and his allies had been accused by political rivals, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of selling liquor licences and receiving kickbacks from private vendors. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had alleged that it had evidence of AAP receiving millions of dollars from a liquor group.[5] Several high-ranking members of the AAP had previously been arrested in connection with the scam, including Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia in March 2023.[6]
Arrest[edit]
Kejriwal was arrested on 21 March 2024 following a raid on his home by the Enforcement Directorate. As he was being taken away, supporters and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers were protesting outside his residence.[7][8] Kejriwal was arrested just after release of Electoral bond data, which linked Bharatiya Janata Party took protection money of worth 60 crore from the alleged liquor Scam kingpin Sarath Chandra Reddy's Aurobindo Pharma Limited.[9] Kejriwal was remanded until 28 March 2024, and remains in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).[10] He had skipped nine summons from the ED before that.[11] The Delhi High Court dismissed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's petition against his arrest.[12][13][14][15][16]
Reaction[edit]
Domestic[edit]
The arrest caused numerous protests in Delhi on 26 March 2024, with AAP supporters marching to the Prime Minister's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg while BJP supporters demanding Kejriwal's resignation marched to the Secretariat Building, New Delhi.[10]
Delhi Cabinet Minister Raaj Kumar Anand resigned as minister of social welfare and also tendered his resignation from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He said that did not want his name to be associated with “corruption” after Delhi High Court's rejection of Kejriwal's bail.[17]
Prominent opposition leaders have voiced strong opposition to Kejriwal's arrest, framing it as part of a broader authoritarian trend under the current government. Rahul Gandhi, for instance, described the government's actions as those of a "scared dictator" aiming to create a "dead democracy."[18][19]
International[edit]
United Nations:
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, "We very much hope that in India, as in any country that is having elections, that everyone's rights are protected, including political and civil rights, and everyone is able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair."[20]
United States:
- United States Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. We are also aware of the Congress party's allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections." A spokesperson for the United States Department of State said that the US was closely following reports of Kejriwal's arrest and that they "encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal".[21]
- In response, Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India's legal processes were "based on an independent judiciary" and that they were "committed to objective and timely outcomes."[22]
- United States Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. We are also aware of the Congress party's allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections." A spokesperson for the United States Department of State said that the US was closely following reports of Kejriwal's arrest and that they "encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal".[21]
Germany:
- A spokesperson for the German Federal Foreign Office said Germany "takes note" of Kejriwal's arrest and expected that the "standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles" will also apply to this case.
- In response, the MEA said that the remarks were seen as "interfering in our judicial process" and "undermining the independence of our judiciary".[21]
- A spokesperson for the German Federal Foreign Office said Germany "takes note" of Kejriwal's arrest and expected that the "standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles" will also apply to this case.
- Amnesty International, an international human rights group said that the arrest of Kejriwal and the "freezing of Indian National Congress’ bank accounts", a few weeks before India's general elections showed "the authorities’ blatant failure to uphold the country’s international human rights obligations".[23][24]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Arvind Kejriwal arrested by Enforcement Directorate in Delhi Excise policy case". The Hindu. PTI. 21 March 2024. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ Sehran, Sohil (21 March 2024). "Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrested by ED in excise policy case". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Arvind Kejriwal Arrest Highlights: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sent to ED custody till March 28 in liquor policy case". The Times of India. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Congress's Kejriwal dilemma deepens as it balances ties with AAP – friends in Delhi, foes in Punjab". 23 March 2024.
- ^ Shih, Gerry (21 March 2024). "India arrests Delhi chief minister as crackdown on opposition spreads". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ PTI (9 March 2023). "Delhi excise policy case | ED arrests Manish Sisodia on money laundering charges". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Mogul, Rhea (21 March 2024). "Delhi chief arrested as opposition party alleges 'huge conspiracy' ahead of Indian election". CNN. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "Delhi chief minister Kejriwal arrested in liquor graft case". Reuters.
- ^ "AAP asks BJP why did it take ₹60-crore bribe from 'Delhi liquor scam kingpin'". 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b Mahajan, Satvika; Tewari, Samridhi (26 March 2024). "High drama in Delhi as AAP, BJP hold protests". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Kakkar, Shruti (20 March 2024). ""Why don't you appear on receiving ED summons": Delhi HC asks Arvind Kejriwal". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Jaiswal, Arushi (1 April 2024). "CM Arvind Kejriwal will not resign, to run government from jail: AAP". India TV. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Can Arvind Kejriwal run govt from jail? Experts have different opinions". The Times of India. 28 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Jain, Aishvarya (9 April 2024). ""Judges Not Bound By Politics": High Court Dismisses Arvind Kejriwal's Petition". NDTV.com. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Anand, Akriti (9 April 2024). "'Arvind Kejriwal's arrest in liquor case valid': Delhi HC rejects CM's plea". mint. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Ojha, Srishti (9 April 2024). "Arvind Kejriwal's plea against arrest dismissed, court says he 'conspired'". India Today. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Delhi Minister Raaj Kumar Anand turns on Kejriwal as he quits AAP". The Hindu. PTI. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Arvind Kejriwal Arrest Highlights: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sent to ED custody till March 28 in liquor policy case". The Times of India. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ Paranjape, Makarand R. (15 April 2024). "With Kejriwal in jail, Aam Aadmi Party's future is uncertain". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ Abbas, Ajmal (29 March 2024). "UN reacts to Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, hopes 'everyone's rights are protected'". India Today.
- ^ a b "US encourages 'fair, transparent' process for arrested Indian opposition figure". Reuters. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "India rejects remarks by US, Germany on opposition leader Kejriwal's arrest". Al Jazeera. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Mogul, Rhea (28 March 2024). "India summons US State Department official over call for fair legal treatment of arrested opposition leader". CNN. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "India: Crackdown on opposition reaches a crisis point ahead of national elections". Amnesty International. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
