Delhi excise policy case: Arvind Kejriwal moves SC after no relief from HC in plea challenging arrest

Delhi excise policy case: After no relief from Delhi High Court in Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Excise policy case, Delhi Chief Minister moved the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's dismissal. 

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed his plea, saying Kejriwal's arrest is not in contravention of law and remand can't be termed "illegal".

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 Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma's bench stated that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) possessed sufficient evidence to justify the arrest of Kejriwal. Kejriwal's failure to cooperate with the investigation and the delays caused by him were also adversely affecting individuals in judicial custody.

Kejriwal's challenge to the timing of arrest before general elections in the absence of any mala fide on the part of ED is not sustainable, said the court.

The Aam Aadmi Party's National Convenor was arrested on March 21 for alleged misdoings in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise policy case under an ongoing money laundering probe by the ED. 

The case pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in framing and implementing the Delhi excise policy case 2022, which was later scrapped.

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The trial court previously remanded Kejriwal to judicial custody till April 15, 2024. The case has garnered significant attention, as it intersects with political dynamics and concerns about the integrity of electoral processes. Kejriwal's plea seeks to challenge the legality of his arrest and the grounds on which it was carried out.