Arvind Kejriwal Takes Legal Battle to Supreme Court After High Court’s Rejection
High Court’s Verdict: Reasons Behind the Rejection of Arvind Kejriwal’s Plea.
Credit: Telegraph India News
10.04.2024: After the Delhi High Court dismissed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged Excise policy scam, Kejriwal has taken his case to the Supreme Court. The petition is scheduled for an urgent listing in the morning.
On April 9, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court pronounced the order rejecting Kejriwal’s plea, asserting that his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate was lawful. Kejriwal, currently in judicial custody at Tihar jail, also contested his subsequent remand in ED custody, questioning the timing of his arrest and its alignment with constitutional principles like democracy, free and fair elections, and a level playing field.
In response, the ED opposed Kejriwal’s plea, arguing that he cannot claim immunity from arrest based on the upcoming elections, as the law applies equally to all citizens.
For a detailed analysis of the legal aspects surrounding Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, refer to our Explained section.
The recent rejection of Arvind Kejriwal’s plea by the Delhi High Court regarding his arrest and remand in the excise policy case has prompted the Aam Aadmi Party into action. Following this development, Kejriwal is now set to approach the Supreme Court seeking relief.
Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma’s order highlighted Kejriwal’s alleged involvement in collecting kickbacks, both personally and in his capacity as the AAP’s national convenor. The High Court stressed that no specific privilege, not even for the Chief Minister, should influence legal scrutiny regarding arrests and remands.
Emphasizing judicial independence, the court dismissed challenges to the timing of Kejriwal’s arrest and underlined the importance of legal processes over political considerations. It also noted the ED’s sufficient evidence justifying Kejriwal’s arrest and expressed concerns about his non-cooperation affecting ongoing investigations.
This case underscores a legal clash between Kejriwal and the ED, emphasizing the court’s responsibility to stay impartial and focused on legal merits, free from external pressures.
Last week, the Delhi High Court reserved its decision on Kejriwal’s plea, which contested both his arrest and subsequent remand by the Enforcement Directorate.