The courtroom witnessed a tense exchange of arguments as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail hearing unfolded. Arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last month over his alleged involvement in a liquor policy scam, Kejriwal found himself embroiled in a legal battle that saw sharp barbs and hard-nosed legal arguments exchanged between his legal team and the ED. Sent to Delhi’s Tihar Jail until April 15, Kejriwal’s plea for interim relief was met with fierce resistance from the ED during the proceedings at the Delhi High Court.
Representing the ED, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju issued a strong rebuttal to the timing of Kejriwal’s arrest, emphasizing that criminals are subject to arrest and imprisonment, regardless of external factors such as impending elections. Raju firmly stated that under-trial prisoners, including Kejriwal, do not possess the right to evade arrest simply because of ongoing electoral processes.
On the other side, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, countered by alleging that the sole motive behind the Chief Minister’s arrest was to undermine and incapacitate the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a significant political opponent to the BJP in Delhi’s political landscape. The legal sparring underscored the high stakes and political undertones surrounding Kejriwal’s legal troubles amidst the backdrop of the alleged liquor policy scam.
