GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 10th April. After the dismissal of his petition challenging his arrest in the liquor policy case by the Delhi High Court, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court for relief.
The leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sought an urgent hearing, with his counsel raising the matter before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. However, the Chief Justice refrained from confirming whether a hearing would be granted today, stating, “We will see, we will look into it.”
The Delhi High Court had ruled against Kejriwal’s challenge to his March 21 arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), emphasizing the agency’s contention that the AAP leader had skipped multiple summonses in the money laundering case, leaving the ED with “little option.”
The court also highlighted the ED’s allegation of Kejriwal’s active involvement in the use and concealment of alleged proceeds of crime.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma underscored that there is no distinct protocol for a probe agency to adhere to when questioning a common citizen versus a Chief Minister.
“This Court holds that this Court would not lay down two different categories of laws,” she stated, emphasizing that public officeholders are not entitled to special privileges solely based on their position.
In response to the high court’s ruling, AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj asserted that neither the ED nor the CBI had uncovered any illegal money during their searches related to the Delhi liquor policy case.
He alleged that witnesses had been coerced to alter their statements to align with the ED’s narrative. Bharadwaj labeled the situation as the “biggest political conspiracy in India’s history.”
Highlighting the denial of relief to AAP MP Sanjay Singh by the high court on similar grounds, Bharadwaj expressed hope for justice from the Supreme Court for Kejriwal.
Previously, Kejriwal had approached the Supreme Court immediately after his arrest but later withdrew his petition to pursue the matter in the trial court. Now, after eighteen days and a court setback, he seeks relief once again from the Supreme Court.
The liquor policy case, which allegedly provided undue benefits to liquor licensees, prompted investigations by both the CBI and the ED.
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