The Supreme Court has slated April 15 for the hearing of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s appeal challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) potential arrest. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta are set to oversee the proceedings.
Kejriwal, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), turned to the apex court following the dismissal of his plea by the Delhi High Court regarding the ED’s arrest and detention. He contends that his arrest, which occurred during the general election period, was driven by malicious intent and ulterior motives.
In his petition seeking release from custody, Kejriwal asserts that the ED allowed its processes to be exploited by vested interests to oppress political opponents and besmirch their reputation, particularly amidst the 2024 general elections.
Furthermore, Kejriwal argues that his arrest represents an unprecedented assault on democratic principles, including free and fair elections and federalism, both integral to the Constitution’s basic structure.
The petition emphasizes the far-reaching consequences of Kejriwal’s continued detention on India’s electoral democracy, warning against setting a precedent for ruling parties to arbitrarily detain opposition leaders on baseless charges prior to elections, thereby undermining constitutional principles.
Kejriwal, in his appeal against the High Court’s decision, maintains that the ED lacks substantial evidence to support his alleged culpability under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Meanwhile, authorities at Tihar Jail have arranged for Kejriwal to meet with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on April 15, albeit as a regular visitor in the ‘mulakat jangla’. Earlier, Kejriwal had meetings with his wife Sunita Kejriwal and personal secretary Bibhav Kumar inside the prison on Tuesday.