Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Arrested: AAP Vows He Will Remain CM

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal from his residence on Thursday evening, following a search operation. Following his arrest, AAP leader Atishi stated, "Arvind Kejriwal is and will remain the Chief Minister of Delhi."

Minutes after his arrest in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, the AAP declared that Arvind Kejriwal would continue to serve as the Chief Minister of Delhi and would discharge his duties from jail.

Atishi, the second-in-command in the Delhi government after Kejriwal, affirmed, "Arvind Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of Delhi and will remain so."

Atishi tweeted, "We have approached the Supreme Court seeking to quash the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal by the ED. We have requested an immediate hearing from the Supreme Court tonight."

Describing the arrest as a "political conspiracy," Atishi remarked that in two years, not a single rupee had been recovered despite the involvement of over 500 officers in the case.

Kejriwal did not appear for the ninth time in response to the ED's summons in the Delhi liquor policy case, leading to the arrival of ED and Delhi Police teams at his residence. He was arrested after 9 PM.

We have moved the Supreme Court for quashing the arrest of Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal, by ED. We have asked for an urgent hearing by the Supreme Court tonight itself. — Atishi (@AtishiAAP) March 21, 2024

Kejriwal's petition to prevent his arrest by the ED was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on Thursday. In the evening, Kejriwal approached the Supreme Court, which will hear the case tomorrow morning.

Sources revealed that Kejriwal sought protection from any punitive actions by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi liquor policy case from the Supreme Court. His petition will be heard by the Supreme Court on Friday.

Today, the Delhi High Court refused to provide relief to Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to the excise policy. Following this, Kejriwal filed a petition in the Supreme Court requesting an urgent hearing.

AAP MLA Rakhi Birla, who was protesting outside Arvind Kejriwal's residence, has been detained by the Delhi Police.

Congress leader Udit Raj commented, "Currently, the Chief Minister's house is heavily guarded by the police, turning it into a fortress, as if he is a bandit... The elected Chief Minister is facing such a situation today. This treatment in India is the murder of democracy.