NEW DELHI: In connection with the ongoing investigation into the liquor policy case, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday arrested Aam Aadmi Party Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a fresh development from his residence.
After the Delhi Chief Minister’s arrest, it has become historical that a sitting Chief Minister was arrested first in India.
This ED action came after the Delhi High Court dismissed Kejriwal’s plea seeking protection from ‘coercive action’ by the agency, which had issued multiple summons to him.
The Delhi Chief Minister was taken into custody following over two hours of questioning by an ED team, including a Joint Director, at his residence. The Delhi High Court’s decision earlier in the day not to grant interim relief to Kejriwal paved the way for his arrest.
Later in the day, before his arrest, a heavy police deployment consisting of local police and paramilitary forces was set up outside the Arvind Kejriwal residence. No one was allowed to enter in his residence.
Kejriwal’s arrest marks a significant development in the alleged scam, making him the most prominent figure to be apprehended thus far.
This comes after the arrest of BRS lawmaker K. Kavitha, former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, among others, in connection with the case.
Now after the arrest of Delhi’s CM, the question is being raised who will be the next Chief Minister of Delhi, will he be stuck to his post serving in jail or his wife, Sunita Kejriwal or AAP leader Atishi Marlena will take over?
Talking to the media outside Kejriwal’s residence, Atishi said, “We have received news that ED has arrested Arvind Kejriwal. We have always said that Arvind Kejriwal will run the government from jail if it is needed. He will remain the Chief Minister of Delhi. We have filed a case in the Supreme Court. Our lawyers are reaching the apex court to request a urgent hearing tonight. It is a political conspiracy of Bhartiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,”
Following the arrest of the Delhi Chief Minister, AAP MLAs Rituraj, Jarnail Singh, Jai Upkar and others were also arrested by Delhi Police. Law and enforcement agencies are taking the help of drones to control the law and order situation in the area.
