Chief minister of India’s capital Delhi Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on 21 march 2024 by India’s financial crime agency Enforcement Directorate. For a corruption case related to a liquor policy in Delhi. Mr. Kejriwal is the third AAP leader to be arrested over the alleged corruption case. Prior to Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy minister, Manish Sisodia, and lawmaker Sanjay Singh were arrested in the same case last year. Mr. Arvind Kejriwal was produced in Delhi trial court on Friday, where he was remanded in custody of ED for six days, till 28 March 2024.
Although Mr. Arvind Kejriwal denied any wrongdoing, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal had moved to the high court on Saturday for an urgent hearing against his arrest. Unfortunately the court directed that the hearing would be done on Wednesday. Thus, tomorrow on Wednesday the Delhi high court will take up Arvind Kejriwal plea challenging his “illegal” arrest and remand by the ED in alleged corruption case related to the liquor policy.
Meanwhile the supporters and party members of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal have started protests against the arrest in the country. On the other hand BJP have also started protests in the capital demanding Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation as Delhi CM. In between, Delhi police have stepped up security in parts of the city. On Tuesday the Aam Aadmi Party protesters started ‘gherao’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s house march on Lok Kalyan Marg raising slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Kejriwal Zindabad”. However many of the protestors were detained outside Patel Chowk metro station.
Delhi CM continues to work from the ED’s custody
Despite the chief minister being in custody, the AAP members said, there will be no change in leadership and the CM Arvind Kejriwal will continue to work in custody. On Saturday Arvind Kejriwal gave his first message to the public saying, ‘he is a man of steel’ who cannot be kept imprisoned for too long. The message was delivered by his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, who read the statement. The party of Mr. Arvind Kejriwal streamed her video statement across its social media channels.
The video stated “I am Sunita Kejriwal. I am Arvind Kejriwal’s wife. Your son, your brother has sent a message for you from jail,” further she added “I want to appeal to all mothers and sisters, have faith in your son and brother. There is no prison that can keep your son and brother inside for too long. I will come out soon and fulfill my promises. Has there been any instance till date when Kejriwal did not fulfill any of his promises? Your son, and brother, is made of steel,” this message video lasted over three minutes.
Kejriwal spoke on the water crises faced by Delhi
Apart from delivering messages the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday issued his first order from the lock-up. His concern was for the areas facing water shortage. In his order Mr Kejriwal asked the city’s Water Minister to locate tankers in the affected areas and strengthen water supply as Delhi prepares itself for the summer. The order was sent to Atishi, Delhi’s Water Minister through a note, late in the Saturday evening. Atishi on Sunday read the first order sent to her by Delhi chief minister from ED’s custody.
Mr. Arvind Kejriwal in the order said “I have learnt that people are facing water and sewer related issues in parts of Delhi. I am worried about this. People shouldn’t face these problems because I am in jail. Tankers should be arranged for places where there is a scarcity of water and appropriate directions should be issued to the officials so that people don’t face any problem.” Stated Atishi, while reading the order.
