Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi chief minister and a key opposition leader in India to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, was arrested at his home last night by India’s federal financial crime agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The arrest was related to corruption allegations in the city’s policies over alcohol sales in 2022, which saw the end of government monopoly in the lucrative business. It is alleged that Kejriwal favoured certain private parties in the allocation, giving them undue advantage.
Kejriwal denies wrongdoing amid political motive allegations
Kejriwal, who founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which is the ruling party in the state of Punjab and the national capital, has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the case is politically motivated. The ED has said that he has skipped nine summons to appear for questioning.
The arrest comes weeks before the general election is scheduled to be held in the country, starting April 19.
Members and workers of AAP have called for nationwide protests against the arrest. Police security has been beefed up considerably in Delhi to ensure against any violence.
Police surrounded Kejriwal’s residence on Thursday evening and officers of the Enforcement Directorate searched the house and his offices.
“They can arrest Kejriwal but not his thoughts. We will continue to fight his arrest and the unjust policies of the Modi government,” said Dilip Pandey, AAP lawmaker and chief whip in the Delhi assembly.
AAP politician Atishi Singh said Kejriwal will remain the CM of Delhi and added: “This shows that the ED is not an independent investigative agency. It is a political weapon of the BJP.”
AAP has filed a case in the Supreme Court to petition for his release.
Hours earlier, India’s main opposition, the Indian National Congress, had accused the BJP of using the tax department to “cripple” their finances. The party claimed their bank accounts had been frozen by the tax department, leaving them unable to use some $20 million in funds.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a press conference: “We cannot do our campaign work. We cannot support our workers and candidates. Our leaders cannot travel from one part of the country to the other. We’re unable to put out our ads.
“This is being done two months before the election campaign. This is a criminal action against the Congress party, done by the PM and the Home Minister. It is being orchestrated to cripple us before the elections.”
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