Late this evening, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal moved the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest and remand in the Delhi excise policy case. ANI reported that Kejriwal’s legal team said his arrest and remand were illegal. 

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Kejriwal on March 21, accusing him of being the “kingpin” in the alleged excise policy scam. Late last night, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court sent him to six days’ custody, though the ED had sought 10-day custody.

The central agency claimed the Aam Aadmi Party received kickbacks from the “scam”, including Rs 45 crore that the party purportedly used to contest the Goa assembly polls in 2021-22. It also said it had issued nine summons to the CM in connection with the case and said Kejriwal complied with none of them. The ninth summons were issued on March 21.

The ED invoked Section 19 of the PMLA against Kejriwal which authorises the agency to arrest an individual based on the material in their possession, and reasonable basis to suspect their involvement in a punishable offence. 

Earlier today, AAP leader Atishi said the party had sought an “urgent appointment” with the Election Commission to “ensure a level playing field in the Lok Sabha elections”. She said the AAP office in Delhi had been “sealed” and “no one was allowed to come to the office despite all requests”.

Also today, Kejriwal’s wife Sunita read out a message from her husband which said: “Whether I am inside jail or outside I will work to serve the country. I have launched many struggles and will continue to launch movements and therefore this arrest does not amaze me...Your son and brother is made of iron. I am very strong. I have only one request. Go to the temple and seek blessings for me.”

Meanwhile, opposition parties united in condemning Kejriwal’s arrest, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Samajwadi Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), National Conference, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

At the Rouse Avenue court yesterday where Kejriwal was produced, shops nearby were asked to close and mediapersons were barred from entering beyond a certain point. Read all about it here.

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