Arvind Kejriwal Sent to Tihar Jail Amid Legal Battle

Arvind Kejriwal, the 55-year-old Aam Aadmi Party convenor, finds himself behind bars in Tihar jail after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand concluded, leading to judicial custody. This development stems from allegations of corruption and money laundering surrounding the formulation and execution of Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, a policy which was subsequently scrapped.

Kejriwal’s arrest by the ED on March 21 came after the Delhi High Court’s refusal to shield him from coercive action by the central agency. His absence from nine summonses and refusal to participate in the probe left the ED with “little option,” as the High Court noted in its decision. Despite Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest being dismissed by the High Court, the legal battle continues.

The Supreme Court has now entered the fray, seeking a response from the ED on Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest. The apex court’s bench has set a deadline of April 24 for the ED to respond, with a hearing scheduled for the week commencing April 29. Meanwhile, Kejriwal’s co-accused, K Kavitha, also remains in judicial custody until April 23.

This case marks a significant milestone, with Kejriwal becoming the first sitting chief minister to be arrested. His political allies, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, are also detained in connection to the same matter. While AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Singh, secured bail earlier this month, the legal battle surrounding Kejriwal’s arrest and its implications for Delhi’s political landscape continue to unfold.